Prime Minister of India - Dr. Manmohan Singh

Prime Minister chairs GOM meet to review Tidal Wave Tragedy

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, chaired a meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) to review the situation and monitor relief measures, following the tidal wave tragedy. Briefing mediapersons after the GoM meeting, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Union Defence Minister and Shri Shivraj Patil, Union Minister for Home Affairs, said that the GoM met to monitor the relief work being undertaken in the areas affected by the tsunami tragedy.

The Defence Minister said that food, water clothing and shelter continued to be the most essential commodities in all the affected areas. He said that 200 tonnes of material has been sent to Car Nicobar and that essential items were being sent by ship and also being airlifted to the affected areas. Shri Mukherjee stated that the Union Ministers visited various relief camps. He added that about 80, 000 people have been put up in various camps in Tamil Nadu, about 30, 000 people are living in relief camps in Andhra Pradesh and about 20, 000 people have been put up in relief camps in Pondicherry. The Defence Minister pointed out that schemes for relief operation and rehabilitation would be made district-specific as well as area specific. Shri Mukherjee stated that it has been decided that Armed forces, Central paramilitary forces, state police forces, along with voluntary organisations would work in unison, in order to avoid the outbreak of epidemics. He informed the mediapersons that the Government of India had decided to provide assistance to the tune of Rs. 100 crore to Sri Lanka and provide Rs. 5 crore to the Government of Maldives. In addition, on the request of Sri Lankan Government, ships and helicopters have been sent by the Indian Government to provide assistance in relief measures. Similarly, two ships have been sent to Maldives, Shri Mukherjee added. The Defence Minister said that the GoM had decided to provide loans on liberal terms to people, including fishermen and ask insurance companies to settle claims with regard to boats and other equipment.

Shri Mukherjee also informed the mediapersons that while he visited Andaman and Nicobar and some parts of Tamil Nadu, Shri Shivraj Patil visited Andhra Pradesh, Pondicherry, parts of Tamil Nadu and Shri P.M. Sayeed, Union Minister of Power visited Kerala.

Shri Shivraj Patil emphasised that the atomic power plant at Kalpakkam has not been affected and that the design of the plant is such that it can resist seismic shocks. The Union Home Minister also pointed out that steps are being taken to ensure that epidemics do not break out in the affected areas. He pointed out that adequate medical facilities are being provided.

The mediapersons were also informed that Rs. 17 crore had been received by the Prime Minister's Relief Fund, till date for the tidal wave tragedy.