The Kerala deluge is over but it’s after effects continues. It would take very long to get back to normal. In many places, it may even not!
More than 500 dead, a million people in relief camps, properties worth billions of Rupees destroyed, many are rendered homeless. Thousands of people had lost everything. Many places do not exist on the map now. Such trauma, such agony!
The political mudslinging had started. Office bearers belonging to national ruling front advising country not to contribute any money to Kerala as it is only the rich who got affected. The country says no to big voluntary contributions coming from well meaning nations. Opposition leader calls for judicial investigation into the openings of dams without prior warning. The ruling front refutes. Experts at both side reeling out judgements. TRP rate goes high on TV Channels!
The major saviours, the fisher folks are back home after saving tens of thousands of lives. The National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) works hard. The local youth daringly come forward to assist, many even losing life in the process!
The Monsoon weather, the low pressure at Orissa, no integrated action plans on Dams opening, the neighbouring state playing truant, the delay in army, navy reaching; there could be thousands of reasons for the high gravitas of the situation.
While we pay obeisance to the departed Souls on accounts of the floods, let us ponder for a moment on .......
What can be done for such a scenario not to repeat in Kerala, ever?
Do we go back and rebuild the same type of houses on fragile land?
Do we clean up the hill tops to make it habitable?
Do we close up riverbeds to create plantations?
Do we construct palatial mansions touching the river to show our pride?
Will we continue to handover dam management to the same departments without an unified integrated plan on opening them on calamity?
Do we sit idle for the powerful neighbouring state to influence the Federal government and other stakeholders not to act upon to find an alternative to the dilapidated Mullaperiyar dam?
Will we clamour for our involvement in the dam/river water management of those being owned (?) by the neighbouring states?
Or
Do we all forget about whatever had happened and get back to our consumption patterns?
How do we move opinions? How do we take defaulters to task? How do we let go our pride of properties and sacrifice ownership for the safety of our people?
Questions linger...….. Remember, the alarm bell had rung!
More than 500 dead, a million people in relief camps, properties worth billions of Rupees destroyed, many are rendered homeless. Thousands of people had lost everything. Many places do not exist on the map now. Such trauma, such agony!
The political mudslinging had started. Office bearers belonging to national ruling front advising country not to contribute any money to Kerala as it is only the rich who got affected. The country says no to big voluntary contributions coming from well meaning nations. Opposition leader calls for judicial investigation into the openings of dams without prior warning. The ruling front refutes. Experts at both side reeling out judgements. TRP rate goes high on TV Channels!
The major saviours, the fisher folks are back home after saving tens of thousands of lives. The National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) works hard. The local youth daringly come forward to assist, many even losing life in the process!
The Monsoon weather, the low pressure at Orissa, no integrated action plans on Dams opening, the neighbouring state playing truant, the delay in army, navy reaching; there could be thousands of reasons for the high gravitas of the situation.
While we pay obeisance to the departed Souls on accounts of the floods, let us ponder for a moment on .......
What can be done for such a scenario not to repeat in Kerala, ever?
Do we go back and rebuild the same type of houses on fragile land?
Do we clean up the hill tops to make it habitable?
Do we close up riverbeds to create plantations?
Do we construct palatial mansions touching the river to show our pride?
Will we continue to handover dam management to the same departments without an unified integrated plan on opening them on calamity?
Do we sit idle for the powerful neighbouring state to influence the Federal government and other stakeholders not to act upon to find an alternative to the dilapidated Mullaperiyar dam?
Will we clamour for our involvement in the dam/river water management of those being owned (?) by the neighbouring states?
Or
Do we all forget about whatever had happened and get back to our consumption patterns?
How do we move opinions? How do we take defaulters to task? How do we let go our pride of properties and sacrifice ownership for the safety of our people?
Questions linger...….. Remember, the alarm bell had rung!
The message is conveyed in unambiguous terms!
Now is the time for decisions and actions, so that the bells will not toll again!
