Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

The root cause

Even the Maharashtra Government does not refute that its machinery was paralysed in Mumbai as its people went through a calamity of unprecedented magnitude. But are the structure and ethos of our governance conducive to inspired action?

When it comes to real service, inspired by a sense of compassion and empathy, governments have time and again proved to be bigger disasters than natural disasters. Essentially it is corruption that blocks our drainage system by derailing urban planning. A society that tolerates rampant corruption also loses its moral authority to fault the government.

J. Kumar,
New Delhi

The large-scale havoc caused by a tsunami is understandable but what happened in Mumbai is the result of human failure. It is regrettable that the financial capital of a flourishing country has acquitted itself so poorly in the area of crisis management.
M.A. Hakeem,
Hyderabad

When calamity struck Mumbai, the aam admi was left in the lurch by an unsympathetic ruling class. The Mumbai floods will soon be forgotten but unaccountability will continue for all time to come.

A.R.K. Pillai,
Mumbai

We, as a nation, are used to quick fixes and short-term measures. When the rainfall is low and there is a drought-like situation, water is sourced from far off distances. When there is plenty of rainfall, excess water drains off into the sea. While one State suffers from excess rain, its neighbour suffers from lack of it. Why don't all political parties sit together and find a solution? Whatever happened to inter-linking of rivers?

B. Madhava Murthy,
Hyderabad

It is time interlinking of rivers was considered seriously. With proper channelling of water, the excess can be diverted to places that need water. It will serve both the flooded as well as rain deficit States.

Mahip Rekhani,
Secunderabad

It is time our experts pooled their expertise and drew up ways of better water management.

D.V. Ramakrishna,
Visakhapatnam, A.P.

Once again, the authorities were caught unawares. It is unfortunate that Mumbai is at sea level, and there is no natural gradient to facilitate the easy and quick drainage of accumulated rainwater. The option of digging extra large lakes at suitable places around the city can be considered. But finding suitable areas to locate these lakes will be a problem in the overcrowded city. Slums, which bore the brunt, should be relocated and the place utilised for lakes.

C.V.K. Moorthy,
Kolkata

Facing the worst deluge in many years, Mumbaikars displayed great fortitude and perseverance, helping themselves without waiting for assistance. But what is most laudable is that even the underworld did not fish in troubled waters.

G.M. Rama Rao,
Visakhapatnam, A.P.

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