Jaya seeks Rs 1,030-crore rehab package from Centre

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa in a meeting with Sharad Pawar, Union minister of agriculture, consumer affairs, food and public distribution, has asked for a rehabilitation package of Rs 1,030.93 crore from the Centre to enable full restoration of the livelihood of fishermen and the fisheries sector and for the rebuilding of the fishing harbours.

According to a press release, a proposal has also been submitted for an overall housing programme for the tsunami affected that will cost between Rs 750 and Rs 800 crore.

The Tamil Nadu government has worked out two separate packages for the 1.2 lakh families, whose agricultural land has become saline, wherein a monthly sustenance package of 30 kg rice and cash support for two years will be provided and another to reclaim the agricultural land that has become saline by leaching and application of gypsum.

The state government wants both these packages to be funded by the central government.

Jayalalithaa stressed on the fact that 31,383 log and fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) catamarans had been fully damaged and needed replacement. To replace the log catamarans with FRP ones, the cost per unit will be Rs 1.5 lakh, including cost of outboard engines and nets. The total cost of this component of the Rs 1,030.93 crore is Rs 470.75 crore.

A total of 8,140 vallams "� the intermediate fishing craft between catamarans and mechanised boats "� will need to be replaced at a cost of Rs 122.10 crore. The total cost to replace 2,655 mechanised boats of length below and above 40 feet is Rs 211.86 crore.

Apart from the replacement of fishing craft, repairs to them, replacement of outboard motors, inboard motors and nets is also needed, the chief minister said.

The cost to completely repair and modernise the fishing harbours in the state is pegged at Rs 100 crore. Dredging in the estuaries of 52 river mouths to restore fish breeding and movement of boats is proposed to be done at a cost of Rs 15.6 crore.

The Rs 750-800 crore cost for the construction of the dwellings includes Rs 50-100 crore for land, Rs 600 crore for the construction of houses and Rs 100 crore for infrastructure.

Jayalalilthaa has indicated that a separate proposal for restoration of salt pans will be sent immediately to the Centre and the labourers working in these salt pans will be provided with a sustenance package.