Tamil Nadu has been the worst hit state by the tsunami and the total loss has been in the tune of $815 million, shows a report prepared jointly by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and the United Nations.
The amount of losses and damage in the state has been $437.8 million and $372.2 million respectively followed by Kerela where the corresponding figures have been $61.7 million and $39.1 million respectively.
The study covered Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and the Union territory of Pondicherry.
It revealed that the total damage has been $574.5 million whereas the loss has been around $448.3 million for these regions.
Sectoral study showed that fisheries have been the worst hit accounting for nearly 55 per cent of the total damage reaching a figure of $567.8 million.
Housing and livelihoods including microeconomic enterprises were among other major effected sectors.
The overall requirement for rehabilitation and reconstruction has been estimated to be around $1.2 billion in the short and medium term out of which Tamil Nadu will be needing around $863.3 million, showed the report.
There is immediate requirement of $400 million for short-term reconstruction, that is within one year, to be followed by $813 million requirement within the next three years, the report said.
The housing sector will be curbing a lion share of it accounting to nearly 40 per cent the total requirement reaching a figure of around $489 million.
The requirements of other sectors are $284 million for fisheries, $178 million for livelihood and $97.5 million for rural and municipal infrastructure.
The joint assessment mission further noted that relief works shall continue for several months for some areas though for the rest the reconstruction has already begun.
During this transition, the protection of the most vulnerable segments of the displaced population and the improvement of their living conditions in temporary shelters over the coming months deserve special attention, it pointed.
The report suggested that that the reconstruction strategy be based on a participatory, equitable, flexible, decentralised, and transparent approach.
The report further pointed that better management of the coastal environment and risk reduction should be seen as a part of overall social and economic strategy.
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