New Delhi: Cutting across party lines, members in the Lok Sabha on Friday sought stronger coordination between various agencies to deal with cyclones and other natural disasters, with some of them alleging that the advance warning for cyclone Ockhi was given to Kerala very late. Congress and Left members, especially from Kerala which bore the brunt, sought a probe into the alleged mismanagement, lack of coordination and other aspects of the disaster while also narrating the ordeal of death and destruction they had witnessed when the cyclone had hit the state.
They also demanded that the devastation caused by Ockhi should be declared a national calamity. Initiating a discussion on natural calamities in various parts of the country, especially due to cyclone Ockhi in South India, Congress leader K. C. Venugopal sought putting in place a "functional" monitoring system and efforts to bring back hundreds of people who are still missing after cyclone Ockhi. The cyclone, which had hit coastal states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu on November 30, claimed several lives and caused widespread damage. A large number of fishermen are still missing. He sought to know the steps taken by the Centre so far and wondered whether it was "insensitive" on the issue.
"Why is there a delay sending a central team" to Kerala, he asked. Venugopal, who represents Alappuzha constituency in Kerala, also urged the government to come out with a timely and comprehensive relief package for Kerala, where more than 75 people have been killed and hundreds of fishermen are missing in the wake of Ockhi. Stressing the need for strong coordination to bringing them back, he said there have been lapses on part of the authorities with regard to dealing with Ockhi and its aftermath. "We cannot accuse anybody for natural calamities... but we could have taken precautions" and had early warnings, he said claiming that some officers have committed mistakes.
Highlighting the plight of fishermen, he called for a "well functioning monitoring system" and emphasised the need for having a "specific alarm system" saying the people were alerted late about the cyclone. "This tragedy is an eye opener... it is time to think about the lives of fishermen," he said, adding there has also been impact on the economy as they go into deep sea for many days together and at times are not even assured of income.
