Dear friends, It reminds me of DIVISEEMA which was washed away in Cyclone in Nov 1977 with 20000 deaths none survived. Brave Students served.
There is a lot of talk about poor town planning, marshland encroachment. Let's not make this politics. Even well planned places like T.Nagar,Mylapore,Adyar,Annanagar and many more where water level gone aboove 6FEET.I am a resident of T.Nagar GOPAL Street on 2nd December evening within one hour water level rose from one feet to 6Feet "Could see the Cars floating" We need solutions right now and quick. We have a situation of dire crises unfolding in Chennai. We have hundreds of thousands of climate refugees taking shelter in schools, malls, Theatres, marriage halls and religious establishments. There are tens of thousands more who need to be rescued. These people need food, clothes, sanitation facilities and medicines. There is flooding all over the city -- the water isn't just rain water, it is rain water mixed with sewage. We are at the brink of a disease breakout. Many Brave young people participated in rescue operations and "large scale Cooking and distributed food packets for 3 days. No one imagined that this could happen to Chennai. We were just a happy little town content with our Bhakti,Devotion and Coffee. But humanity has won over once again. Caste, creed, religion and social background have become immaterial. Who said we are an intolerant society? Look at Chennai, the collective good is the only th
Pavitra what you say is correct to some extent. We know Chennai was not prepared for this & sinere Officers like Vijay Pingale transferred when he wanted to take action on substandard road contractors. Certainly help has not arrived in time because they were not prepared for it. No need to politicise but immediate corrective action. FIRST ACTION IS LET MUD RETHINK & REDESIGN 100 SMART CITIES. SORRY THERE IS NO DESIGN/PLAN FOR SMART CITIES. That is the first action. We all w anted Mega cities with Micro infrastructure, provided by Britishers 100 yrs ago. Now Mega Cities have become Mega Pities. 4 yrs ago Mumbai received 3 times as much rain & we have seen the damage which was also because of encroaching into water bodies. Despite all such damage, our National Planners, Town Planners, MUD etc. are least concerned about proper Mega Plan, even for Micro Cities. It is not the question of lack of funds but lack of intention to think of long term planning. Every Official (including Ministers) who is in responsible position, thinks of how to make max money within minimum period. If all those offenders of Rule Book, are brought to the Book, terminated & their whole properties confiscated, without legal recourse, imprisoned, at least future officials will have some stick to fear. OR it is not carrot but beautiful apples. We have very rewards (from Ministers) for any crime & punishment for sincere work. Unless this is checked (first action) it will be business as usu
Pavitra, I am also living in Chennai, and have experienced a tumultous week. Like you, I am among the fortunate few who have not seen water/ sewage seep into their homes, washing away a lot of their belongings and casting a shadow on their future.
However, I disagree with your point about not playing politics at this stage. If we citizens and the pathetic Govt. (including the prior DMK regimes as well) don't wake up atleast now, we will continue to face such disasters, maybe of even greater magnitude. There was a report about plans for development of Chennai submitted by a team constituted by the TN Govt. 5 years ago. One of the points was about deepening/ doubling the capacity of reservoirs supplying water to Chennai. If just this alone had been implemented, I dare say 50% of this tragedy would have been controlled, because it was not last Tuesday's rain per se which caused the havoc, but the release of excess water from the reservoirs.
When we slowly limp back to normalcy, I sincerely hope that there will be an awakening of the Aam Aadmi who will not vote in exchange for a packet of biriyani/ 1 bottle of low grade liqour and Rs. 1000 cash. And precisely for this reason, I believe that there MUST BE NO CASH DONATIONS given to the State Govt. With the Assembly elections just 5 months away, any money coming in (including the Central Govt's contribution) will only be misused during election time and not for the purpose it is intended. Hope contributions come in kind.
Pavitra, I am also living in Chennai, and have experienced a tumultous week. Like you, I am among the fortunate few who have not seen water/ sewage seep into their homes, washing away a lot of their belongings and casting a shadow on their future.
However, I disagree with your point about not playing politics at this stage. If we citizens and the pathetic Govt. (including the prior DMK regimes as well) don't wake up atleast now, we will continue to face such disasters, maybe of even greater magnitude. There was a report about plans for development of Chennai submitted by a team constituted by the TN Govt. 5 years ago. One of the points was about deepening/ doubling the capacity of reservoirs supplying water to Chennai. If just this alone had been implemented, I dare say 50% of this tragedy would have been controlled, because it was not last Tuesday's rain per se which caused the havoc, but the release of excess water from the reservoirs.
When we slowly limp back to normalcy, I sincerely hope that there will be an awakening of the Aam Aadmi who will not vote in exchange for a packet of biriyani/ 1 bottle of low grade liqour and Rs. 1000 cash. And precisely for this reason, I believe that there MUST BE NO CASH DONATIONS given to the State Govt. With the Assembly elections just 5 months away, any money coming in (including the Central Govt's contribution) will only be misused during election time and not for the purpose it is intended. Hope contributions come in kind.
Dear Pavithra, I am deepenly saddened for what happened to you and to Chennai. I admire at your matured way of putting things in your message. As clearly mentioned by you it's the collective action of the people that's going to help Chennai. Needless to discuss anything now. I wish you speedy recovery and let's atleast pledge to grow in harmony with nature.
I hope our politicians will learn from Deluge in Mumbai 4 years back and currently Chennai. In Bangalorewe had 100s of tank bunds and lakes and most of them have been gobbled up. Look at Tank Bund in SUbhasnagar, now occupied by BMTC when ever there is heavy rains all sweage mixes with rain water and fills up the bund area. It is such a serious health hazard and the Govt simply ignores. We should vote for a party which promises Development and NOT Reservations, Freebies etccc. Only then Bharath will change
Money is the biggest enemy for humanity. Ban 500 and 1000 rupee notes and see how humanity and glorified india comes back. Every illegal activity, corruption exists because of the existence of physical money. We need everything to be online and tracking.
