The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Relief efforts begin to show

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 30, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Relief efforts begin to show

V. Jayanth

NewSAnalysis All layers of administration acted in unison and pooled resources

RELIEF WORK: Indian Coast Guard takes up rescue operations at Ram Nagar, Madipakkam in Chennai. — Photo: M. Karunakaran

CHENNAI: The rescue and relief operations taken up by the State Government and the local administration in the flood-hit districts have been welcomed by the people, who benefited from the swift response, though there were "islands" which could not be reached.

Of course, those in areas still under water complain that it was left to the Army and Coast Guard to reach succour to them, three days after the unprecedented rain.

Comparisons are being made between the lack of response that most of the areas and residents in Mumbai experienced after the heaviest rain and the way in which Chennai and other affected districts in Tamil Nadu dealt with the monsoon crisis.

A former Chief Secretary says: "The comparison ends there, because what Mumbai received was almost 95 cm on a single day. No administration can cope with such a situation. But the kind of complaints we heard for a week after that does not auger well for the administration. It may take some time for the Government or administration to assess the situation, mobilise the resources and swing into action. But when it does, there can be no holding back. The officers can return only when the situation comes under control."

Officials who have been dealing with the Chennai crisis say the Government, the Collectorate and the Corporation were acting in unison and pooling all resources.

"The instructions from the Government were swift and clear. We had the full backing to go all out. It needed time only to organise the manpower, logistics and priorities," says a senior official. The "monsoon preparedness" drill is already in place and only needs to be implemented.

Residents at Santhome and T. Nagar expected severe waterlogging for a few days. They were surprised to find most of the roads dry overnight after the rain stopped. "Obviously, the authorities worked overnight on the storm water drains and cleared the roads," says R. Vidyasagar, who lives at MRC Nagar.

In parts of North Chennai and the suburbs, however, the story is different. Madipakkam, Kolathur, Perambur, Vysarpadi and MKB Nagar are still waterlogged. There have been complaints that the drains into the `Retta Eri' were blocked to prevent it breaching. Hence, the residential colonies remain inundated.

It is these areas on which the opposition parties have focussed their attention, claiming no relief has reached the people even after three days and they have no access to drinking water, bread and milk. Officials explain that in each of these areas where authorities have not been able to reach, the Army and Coast Guard have been called in. They were assigned to specific areas and given particular tasks. "The Government did not hesitate to seek the help of the Armed forces, though there was a feeling that it was not warranted at this juncture. But the Chief Minister made it clear that every habitation must be reached. We are constantly reviewing the situation at the Secretariat and in districts. All that needs to be done is being done," says a senior official.

Besides the on-the-spot review conducted by the Chief Minister in parts of Chennai, teams of Ministers fanned out to the affected districts. The Chief Secretary has also hit the roads, and reviews the situation morning and evening.

Reports of the situation and the action taken and complaints keep pouring in.

In the run-up to the Assembly elections, everyone wants to the keep the best foot forward and make sure that the people — the voters — are kept in good humour.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu