Sunday, January 2 2005 16:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Nagercoil: The Tsunami has caused a total loss of property worth Rs 1000 crore in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the damage caused to the port alone would come to Rs 200 crore, Union Shipping Minister T R Baalu said today (Jan 2, 2005).

In Tamil Nadu, Chennai port suffered a loss to the tune of Rs 12 crore and the lighthouse Rs four crore. "Total damage to port and highways is being estimated," he told reporters in Nagercoil.

He charged that the Tamil Nadu Government had not informed the Centre about the total loss so far, though the centre was ready to give enough funds for the purpose and described the progress of relief works as "tardy".

The centre would give Rs 15 crore for reconstruction of the damaged bridge connecting Keezhamanakudy and Melamanakudy in the district, which would take about one year. Till that time, a temporary bridge would be constructed.

The minister also visited relief centres at Colachel and Manakudy.