The Hindu : National : Temporary shelters for Andamans' tsunami-hit before onset of monsoon

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Friday, Jan 28, 2005

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Temporary shelters for Andamans' tsunami-hit before onset of monsoon

By T. Ramakrishnan

Lieutenant-Governor Ram Kapse of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. — Photo: S. Thanthoni

CHENNAI, JAN. 27. Over 10,000 temporary houses will be built for tsunami-affected people in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands before the onset of the South West Monsoon, the Lieutenant-Governor of the Islands, Ramachandra Ganesh Kapse, said today.

Normally, the monsoon sets in during the last week of May and continues till September. The December 26, 2004 tsunami rendered homeless about 40,000 people in the Islands, mostly in the Nicobar region. About 1,940 people were said to have died while 5,555 were reported missing. Over 170 camps are being run in different parts of the islands. The total damage is estimated at Rs. 3,100 crores.

"Our plan is to ensure that everyone lives under one's own shelter at a safe place before the monsoon. The plan for temporary housing will be executed according to expert advice and wishes of the people. We (A&N administration) are working at it, deriving guidance from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs," Prof. Kapse told The Hindu at the Chennai airport, while leaving for Pune. Regarding permanent housing, the Union Urban Development Ministry had begun work.

Asked how long it would take to complete rehabilitation works, Prof. Kapse, who hails from Maharashtra, said: "Usually, such a task will require two years. This was what the Latur experience was." (Latur in Maharashtra was the epicentre of the September 1993 earthquake that killed thousands of people).

He went on to say that the thinking of the authorities was to establish a "much better, much improved" infrastructure in the Andamans. "Tourism, fisheries and high-value agriculture will flourish. It will be a modern Andaman and Nicobar. Everything will be in place latest by 2007."

To a question whether people in the Nicobar region would be evacuated to the Andaman region, he said that as on date, there was no rush of people from one island to another. People traditionally living in low-lying areas would have to be resettled in safer areas. "However, we will do everything on the advice of experts," he said.

Integrated Relief Command

Pointing out that the Integrated Relief Command was functioning well, Prof. Kapse said the administration had been having a smooth coordination with the Defence forces from day one. "In fact, we had perfect relations even before the tsunami," he said. The IRC, headed by him and comprising the Chief Secretary, Member of Parliament, a representative of the Union Home Affairs Ministry and the Chief-in-Command of the Defence forces, had a meeting at Port Blair on Wednesday.

In times of crisis, the administration had to rely on the armed forces for logistical support as it had limited resources at its disposal.

Tourism revival

Emphasising that no tourist was killed in the tsunami, the Lt.Governor said that on the fateful day, there were 4,000 tourists in the Andamans. "They all returned safely," he said. Inter-island connectivity had been established immediately and even the communication system was restored in a week or so. By and large, the coral reefs were not disturbed. Recently, the administration had deliberations on tourism revival and after consultations with the Tourism Ministry, it decided to take renewed efforts for tourism promotion in the islands as a large number of tourists were normally expected in February.

Asked about the idea of establishing a "popular government" in the Andamans, he said it was the "prerogative" of the Union Government to decide "when and how" to go about such a proposal. However, the absence of such an arrangement did not create problems.

NGOs' role

The Lt. Governor commended the services of the non-governmental organisations in providing relief to the affected. "They [NGOs] are running 12camps there," he said, adding that the civil administration, people's representatives, Defence forces and the NGOs all worked in tandem. All employees of the Union Territory administration, from the Lt. Governor to a peon, had together contributed more than Rs. 1 crore for the tsunami relief fund.

Pointing out that relief material came from as far as Punjab, he said it was a moving experience with all sections of society in the rest of the country contributing their mite for the people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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