Residents cry foul over relief distribution

CUDDALORE: The people of Gundu Upalavadi said they would attend Republic Day celebration by sporting black badges demanding equal compensation for all damaged houses in the village. Meanwhile, farmers of Vazhisothanaipalayam decided not to accept compensation for damaged crops protesting against irregularity in the preparation of beneficiaries’ list.Residents petitioned the collector on Monday to take steps to distribute the relief to all the affected houses here as people living in NGO Nagar, Periyasamy Nagar, Jayalakshmi Nagar, Perumal Nagar and Azhagappa Nagar were yet to receive it. They warned, “If authorities fail to take action, the villagers would attend the Republic Day celebration sporting black badges.”Farmers of Vazhisothanaipalayam village declined to accept the compensation given for damaged crops stating that the beneficiaries list did not include all the affected farmers. “Many of our names are not on the list. Even for chosen farmers, the mentioned compensation amount against their names is insufficient as it was not on a par with Chief Minister’s announcement,” said farmers.“Crops in 12 acres of my land were spoiled in the cyclone. But in the list, `9,000 has been mentioned against my name as compensation. I do not know on what basis they allocated this amount,” lamented P Kumar.Hence, all farmers had decided not to accept the compensation amount demanding preparation of a new list by the VAO.Residents of Poiyappakkam also petitioned the collector seeking relief.