‘Flood damage assessment to be over soon’

In the aftermath of the recent devastating floods in Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli, Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena has been actively overseeing the relief and restoration operations. His latest updates provide a comprehensive view of the ongoing efforts to bring normalcy back to the affected regions. Inspection and Restoration Chief Secretary Meena, continuing his inspections on Sunday, highlighted that relief and restoration works are in full swing. Notably, he emphasized the importance of restoring the breached Korampallam tank to ensure the proper storage of water through the Tamirabarani river for the benefit of farmers. Extent of Damages Apart from the damage to the Tamirabarani riverside and the Korampallam tank, a staggering 750 breaches have been reported in several tanks. Efforts are underway to address these issues promptly. Progress and Challenges While almost 50% of the flood-damaged areas have regained normalcy, the restoration works are being pursued with urgency. Special teams from various districts have initiated an enumeration process to assess damages, with a commitment to completing this assessment within three days. Relief Measures and Support Chief Minister MK Stalin’s announcement regarding relief assistance is a significant step forward. The Chief Secretary confirmed that 3,500 houses have been damaged, and relief disbursement will align with the enumeration report. Infrastructure Rehabilitation The scale of the disaster necessitated extensive infrastructure repair. Nearly 200 motor pumps are actively draining water from low-lying areas, and efforts are being made to repair the 175 battered road sections, with 150 already restored. Utilities Restoration Chief Secretary Meena reported progress in restoring electricity, with only a few locations in Thoothukudi and Eral still awaiting full restoration. Additionally, 80% of the telecommunication network affected b