An inter-ministerial team deputed by the Centre today visited cyclone Thane-ravaged areas in and around Puducherry to assess the damage.
The nine-member team led by Lokesh Jha, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, saw for itself the extent of havoc the December 30 cyclonic storm had caused in agriculture and other sectors besides claiming seven lives here.
Earlier, officials of the territorial administration led by Chief Secretary to Puducherry M Sathiyavathy briefed the team members.
Jha told newsmen at Porayur that a memorandum on the damage caused by the cylonic storm was handed to the team at the meeting with the officials.
Puducherry Director of Agriculture Sathiaseelan told the team that the more than century old government botanical garden had borne the impact of the cyclone. A number of 150-year-old trees were uprooted and over two lakh coconut trees lost in the cyclone.
It was pointed out that at least Rs 5,000 should be sanctioned as compensation per tree lost in the calamity.
A team of legislators of the opposition AIADMK headed by A Anbalagan submitted a memorandum to Jha highlighting the extent of havoc the fisheries and farm sector had suffered
