Tsunami Update

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Tsunami survivors haunted by memories, unfulfilled promises

Chennai, (PTI) : Candle light vigils and memorial services marked the

anniversary of the killer tsunami that struck the coast of Tamil Nadu claiming

over

8,000 lives on this day four years ago while survivors complained of

unfulfilled promises of their rehabilitation.

With the black Sunday still afresh in their memories, the survivors and

relatives of the victims converged at many affected places to pay homage to

their

loved ones.

The tsunami, which left 8,200 people dead, including thousands of children,

caused extensive damage in Nagpattinam, Chennai, Cuddalore and Kanyakumari

districts and rendered lakhs of people homless.

While some victims complained that they were yet to get their permanent

houses promised by the government, some others claimed that the homes alloted

to

them did not have adequate facilities.

Voluntary agencies were given land free of cost by the government. " While

many NGOs had managed to construct the houses and handed them over to the

victims, several others were unable fulfil their commitment fully, " V

Raghunathan,

a social worker involved in tsunami rehabilitation work in Nagapttinam

District, said. A large number of people still live in huts close to the sea.

Mata Amritanandamayi Trust which was entrusted with the job of building 600

houses for the tsunami victims in Nagore, near Nagapttinam, is among those

which have completed the work In Cuddalore, Kanyakumari and Villupuram

districts, most of the fishermen, who lost their houses, were yet to get

permanent

houses.

Officials, however, claimed the district collectors had been asked by Chief

Minister M Karunanidhi to speed up the construction work. Controversies also

continued to plague certain projects already completed. Fishermen here

refused to move into 20,000 houses constructed by the state government for them

after tsunami.

" They wanted to be nearer to the place of their work " , National Alliance of

People Movement Coordinator Y Aruldoss told PTI.

The houses were too small to accommodate big families and power was yet to

be connected, he claimed adding that toilet facilities were also not

available. " Apart from this, postal services were also not made available to

the

people " , he said.

Only 30 per cent of the affected had occupied the houses constructed in

Okkiyam Thoraipakkam and Semmancherry and Kargil Nagar areas, he claimed.

" Government and NGOs had not discussed with the people before constructing

these hous

es " , he added.

At Velankanni in Nagapatinam district, which bore the brunt of the tsunami,

special prayers were organised at the famous Our Lady of Health shrine. On

the fateful day most of the pilgrims, who had gathered there for Christmas

celebrations were washed away by the tidal waves.

In Cuddalore district alone, more than 50 children orphaned by the tsumani

had been admitted to various schools. District Collector Rajendra Rathnoo said

life for Tsunami hit families was gradually returning to normal with the

succour provided by the administration and aid agencies.

All the 51 coastal villages in Cuddalore district were hit by Tsunami and

over 11,000 families have been affected. Over 5,000 boats, fishing nets, houses

crops were damaged.

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