The
Kerala government has requested for an aid of Rs 757 crore
from the centre for relief and rehabilitation in the tsunami-affected
areas in the state. So far, 162 bodies have been recovered
from the areas affected by the waves. The highest number
of deaths was in Kollam [128], followed by Alappuzha [29],
Ernakulam [4] and Kannur [1].
To
provide relief to fishermen in the affected coastal areas,
the proceedings to recover loans from them has been suspended
for six months, Kerala chief minister Omman Chandy said
in a statement. Steps are also being taken to provide
them with fresh low-interest loans.
According
to Chandy, about 1.5-lakh people are staying in the 212
relief camps set up for those affected by the tsunamis.
The
CM said the state cabinet has also decided to set up a
disaster management mechanism to be forewarned about natural
calamities. An expert committee will be set up to work
out the modalities
for the mechanism, he said. The committee will also look
into the construction of disaster shelters, he added.
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