Road blocked for drinking water

PUDUCHERRY: Residents of Villianur, Kamban Nagar in Reddiarpalayam, Bommiarplayam, Pillauchavady, on Monday, staged a road blockade demanding safe drinking water and electricity, the supply of which was disrupted after Cyclone Thane.Police had to resort to mild lathicharge in Kamban Nagar to disperse the crowds. In Villianur, officials  assured the protesters that generators would be used to  get water from the wells.   It may be recalled that residents of Kalapet, Kondareddipalayam, Madagadipet, Sltanpet, Kalitheerthalkuppam and Shanmugapuram staged  similar road blockades in their respective areas on Sunday.Worst-hit areas yet to get reliefSeveral areas of Veerampattinam, one of the regions worst hit by the cyclone, are yet to receive relief measures announced by the UT government. Kangeyan, a fishermen community leader, said the food packets were sparsely distributed and people had been left without water even for drinking.He added that fishermen in the area were struggling as they could not use their boats, which were destroyed during the cyclone. He said the Rs 1800-relief for the fishermen community members was insufficient as many had lost their fishing boats and nets. In Karikalampakkam and surrounding areas, social workers came forward to the rescue of people to tide over the crisis.  G A Jegannathan, a social worker, said several people pooled money for preparing food for distribution to the affected.   Jegannathan said nearly 98 villages in and around Karikalampakkam were still without power supply.He charged that there was no co-ordination between government departments like the PWD, revenue and local administration.He appealed to all political parties to instruct their workers to go to people and render assistance.