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Com. S. Srinivasan Rtd
Telegraph overseer residing at Rose Nagar,Kovilambakkam, and flood water enters
his house in the night to nearly4 feet resulting in abandoning the house and
took shelter in a flat nearby for Two days. On return several household articles
swpt away or damaged.
Today V.Rama Rao Cs TN and com S.Ramakrishnan Rtd CSS STR purchased utensils and Provisions totalling Rs 5000 and handed over this evening to his family. They were in tears and thanked our. Association. |
We also contributing to our brethren
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Relief materials Given to
hutment dwellers living on the banks of Buckingham
canal, near Thuraipakkam by
V. Ramarao Rao circle Secretary AIBSNLPWA TN circle
More Photos     
Letters to Editor written to Times of India by our circle Secretary
about Water Mangement perspective on 30/11/2015
By
V.Ramarao, Social Workier, Nanganallur,
News was agog “ City on verge of rain record with Monday
(23.11.15) torrential downpour bringing 9.3cm of rainfall Chennai has crossed 102.5cm for the month.
The remaining days will see the city whether it crosses the century old record
of 108.84cm in 1918. The people who are prone to the water shortages &
worried over the coming year are very much receptive to the rainfall but
equally unhappy with the floods and letting huge amount of precious water in to
the sea. Most of the people blaming the Govt for its unpreparedness to meet the
monsoon. The common complaints of the people is waterbodies are not desilted
and waterways are not cleaned. From the suburban to the
parts of the city waterlogging
was rampant. Result is heavy flood caused
knee deep water in the roads and rain water entered most of the houses. Official sources said this
situation was the result of excess water flowing from the lakes. Fourteen lakes, in Tambaram, Pallavaram and Alandur regions, were filled to
capacity and the excess water drained on to the streets, resulting in flooding
of houses.
Is there truth in the claim
of officials?. Yes. Partially. The claim of lakes filled to its capacity is far
from truth. Because the 14 lakes as mentioned by officials has not been
desilted for long time. During this summer and even before the torrential rain
the lakes were almost empty. How come
the lakes can be filled within two or three days even if it brought heavy
downpour of bringing rainfall of 14cm maximum? Why theses lakes are filled is
its holding capacity shrinked to the lowest.
The officials has not taken efforts to increase the holding capacity of
the remaining portion of the waterbodies. Had it been done atleast 50% of the flood situation could have been
controlled and water would have been stored by more than 50% of present
storage.
The other factor is most of
the inlets and outlets are under encroachment and thus water entering the lake
and overflowing are eratic. The water is not guided properly to reach lake or
drain in the event of surplus water. Water movement is not channelized and
thereby it takes recourse to streets and houses, thereby causing innumerable
hardship people. The amount of losses people and govt facing may run into
several thousand crores is micro analysis made.
If a few crores of rupees
spent on waterbodies the govt and society could have saved the losses and build
the asset of water.
When we speak about the
storm water drains and mixing up of sewage water that may run into several
volumes. The Localbodies has not provided the serious attention to the problem
of silt filled storm water drains. Most of drains capacity was reduced to 30%
because of silt and plastic wastes.
Plastic wastes contributed for the severe blockades in the water drains
as it is evident from the heaps of silt and plastic wastes removed from the
drains by corporation. Besides the water carrying capacities of drains has to
p2
be reassessed to meet the eventualities. The
flow rate of water drains has to be increased during the flood/monsoon instead
of designing the drains on the gravity flow. The joining of the water drains in
perpendicular has also contributed for turbulence and water entering the
houses.
Here we bring in to notice the Chennai High court judgement of 2007. They listed the
following lakes for rehabilitation.
The deterioting status of Water Bodies In and around Chennai city
Minimum fund should be allotted for each and every waterbody.
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The inlet and outlet canals of waterbodies should be preserved and
the encroachment , if any, should be removed.
The inlet and outlet canals of waterbodyies should be provided with
shutters for regulating the water level.
Similarly the major storm water drains should also have shutters to
regulate and divert the water in the event of flood.
To prevent the encroachment on the waterbodies walkers platform
along with lights and gardens around the waterbodies should be
constructed, wherby the public will become watch-dog.
To protect the waterbodies vigilant people committees comprising
elected representatives of Localbodies, resident welfare associations,
voluntary help groups and social activist has to be formed by the Govt.
Banning of production of non-standard plastic bags at the source (I.e)
manufacturing place itself rather checking at shops.etc.
For efficient and better water management separate Water resources
Ministry has to created at State level besides formation of lake
authority of Tamilnadu on the similar line in Karnataka. This will help
in bringing all water bodies under the controll of Lake Authority of Tamilnadu
for better co-ordination. At present major number of waterbodies belongs
to PWD, the reset Panchayatys, Local Bodies, Municipalities, Corporation,
HR & CE, Defence, Railways, Fisheries Dept,
The formation of Lake Authority will help in ensuring the conducive
atmosphere for growth.
What Tamilnadu has done on the question of Disaster Management.-
By V. Rama Rao social worker Nanganalur Chennai to All leading Press.
The worst happened
without any preventive or precautionary measures. All is gone and now the
relief is pouring. The state has not learn the lessons from the tsunami &
erstwhile floods ,cyclone like thane all that which caused very high damages to
the people and to their lives & properties. The tsunami caused the deaths
of thousands of people, the thane hit at the very livelihood of the people and
their belongings besides worst affected agriculture. The recent flood in
Chennai paralysed the life of the people and brought very heavy damages to the
life, livelihood and most especially their houses and household items. The
flood hit invariably the rich and poor (normally the poor)and small
traders/industry to the big corporate houses/big industries /traders. Hence the
damage if assessed microphically, this could run into multi thousands of
crores. Could not have reduced , if not prevented? This is the
question in everybody minds. The question needs answer.
In the official
documents of TN/central Governments the serious studies are conducted and
action plans are drawn, but in practice no sign of it. Tamil Nadu is prone to multi hazards, higher
than other States and
is frequented by hazards of various nature and different
intensities. The vulnerability of the coastal community became exceedingly
evident when Tsunami struck the southern coast of India and the coastal
community faces disasters like cyclone and floods periodically. . Communities
in other hazard prone plains and hilly regions
of the State face threats from Landslides, Earthquakes and Floods.
Urban flooding is also becoming a growing concern in the State.
Apart from rescue , relief and rehabilitation
rehabilitation, and reconstruction disaster management is to lay greater
emphasis prevention, mitigation, and preparedness—in order to avert or at least
to reduce the impact of emergencies. State Disaster Management Policy was
prepared in 2003 itself, even before the tsunami. The perspective of the
Disaster Management is preparedness, response, recovery, reconstruction,
mitigation and to develop a robust disaster management unit in the State.
The
Commissioner of Revenue Administration undertakes all activities relating to
Disaster Management and Mitigation besides managing relief and rehabilitation
activities of any disaster in the State. The Principal Secretary/Commissioner
of Revenue Administration is also the Relief Commissioner of the State. At the
State level the Honorable Chief Minister as its Chairperson of Disaster
Management Authority (SDMA), at the district level the district level, the
District Collector has the responsibility for the overall management of
disasters. He/She has the authority to mobilize the response machinery
and has been given financial powers to draw money under the provisions of the
General Financial Rules/Treasury Codes. All departments of the State Government
work in a coordinated manner under the leadership of the District Collector
during disasters. In Metropolitan areas the Municipal corporation
plays a major role. Efforts are also on to strengthen emergency
management systems at the Taluk and Sub-divisional levels has not been formed
so far.
A State
Disaster Management (DM) Plan has been prepared and is being updated. District
disaster management plans are in place and are periodically updated. The State
Emergency Operation Centre (EOC ) has linked through hot lines with India
meterological department. However the district/taluks/blocks is connected with
telephones and faxes, IP phones and radio network. The system at present
equipped for early warning. State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has to be constituted
by designating Tamil Nadu Special Police (TSP) Battalion II, Avadi as SDRF.
With
regard to flood, the risk assessment has been carried out for Chennai City by
Institute for Remote Sensing, Anna University and Public Works Department has
attempted in certain pockets of the State. Risk assessment exercise has been
initiated on a pilot basis in a few vulnerable wards of Chennai.
Training
and capacity building programmes are being planned with multi stakeholder
approach. NGOs and Civil Society Organisations will be involved in the process
to ensure effectiveness and reachability. Exclusive sensitization programmes on
disaster preparedness and management are being planned for schools and
hospitals.
Preparation
of disaster management plans and procedures consciously at all levels in the
Government and regionally in the State including creation of higher
capabilities, capacities and preparedness of medical facilities and security
establishment across the State for handling emergencies of various kinds.
Improving
the fiscal position of the State Government in a conscious manner to build a
buffer for contingent expenses, in particular, to help the poor and destitute
who have low intrinsic capabilities to face calamities of any kind.
The
cyclone “Thane” has deprived the livelihood security of people and its impact
was much felt around its landfall zone viz. Cuddalore & Villupuram
districts. In a move to mitigate the cyclonic havoc, one lakh houses will be
constructed in these two districts. Frequent cyclones cause extensive
damages to electricity supply infrastructure
in the
coastal areas. In order to reduce the impact, it is proposed to convert the
overhead supply lines to underground cables at a cost of `490.00 crore in these two districts. On verification in Cuddalore
town two areas alone the underground cabling work has been done
that too, two years before and thereafter the work stands suspended.
According
to the National Institute of Disaster Management, 13 districts of Tamil Nadu
are vulnerable to high or very high cyclonic impact and flooding.
The
Thirteenth Finance Commission has recommended total contribution of`Rs. 1621.90 crore to the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management for five
years from 2010-2011 to 2014-2015, of which the Central share will be `1216.43 crore (75 percent) and the State’s share will be `405.47 crore (25 percent).
The Government claim of unforeseen heavy rain and subsequent floods is not
valid. Similar to it has not taken the requisite actions to protect lakes
and waterways & deepening the lake/reservoirs it has not paid the necessary
attention to the disaster management. The Government claims that
Implementing measures to reduce the vulnerability of the State and its
residents to unfavourable events (natural or otherwise) and their consequences,
is a key objective of Vision Tamil Nadu 2023. Hence people will be left at the
risk of disaster and they all have to wait till 2023 |
