Chennai: Observing that “unplanned urbanization” and growth of cities are some of the contributing factors to floods in cities like Chennai, a parliamentary committee has asked the Union Government to come out with a “proper long-term master plan” for metro cities to prevent such disasters in future.
Floods that battered Chennai in December last, the committee opined, is an eye opener and other metro cities must also learn lessons from the disaster.
Appreciating the action taken by the Tamil Nadu Government in removing unauthorized constructions, the report said the committee still feels that this is inadequate and all illegal encroachment and construction should be removed.
“However, the committee is of the view that the process of removing encroachment should be a balanced one as it has human and social consequences. There should be proper blue print and planning for rehabilitating and resettling those who are living on encroached settlements before removing encroachment,” the report said.
The committee also suggested that the Union urban development ministry provide a special package for rehabilitation and restoration work in the urban local bodies including Chennai municipal corporation of the state which have been severely affected due to torrential rains and consequent floods.
“Since, these local bodies are dependent on their own small source of tax revenue, they require substantial amount for restoration and rehabilitation works.
The committee while considering the magnitude of the devastation caused also recommends the Central Government to consider granting a sufficient sum for construction of houses for the people who lost their dwellings in the flood devastation,” the report said.
Top babu puts his foot in mouth
Union home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi has invited the wrath of a parliamentary committee for his comments that there cannot be any preparation for a disaster that occurs “once in 100 years”, while appearing before the panel with regard to Chennai floods.
However, the committee in its report said it does not “quite accept” the argument that since the rainfall was unprecedented and was more than the hundred years average therefore the damage was also huge.
Arguing that any natural disaster of bigger intensity has the propensity to cause extensive damage, the committee observed instead of putting the blame on the forces of nature, the Centre and state should use advanced technology to fight it out.
“Moreover, the administration of both Centre and state should work together and remain vigilant to tackle the situation. The committee also observes that natural disaster of high magnitude will always adversely affect people in large number and the administration has to respond in a fastest possible manner,” the committee said.
Observing that the NDMA plays a very crucial role in mitigating problems of disaster victims, the Committee recommended that the guidelines prepared by NDMA should be scrupulously followed and they should also review town planning of each city by giving due importance to clear flood channels, proper drainage, safe-passage to excess water in lakes, other water bodies, de-siltation of river bed, removal of illegal encroachment. The committee recommends that there should not be so many layers and NDMA has to revamp the process in co-ordination with the Centre and the state.
