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From: dnrad1 <dnrad1@sancharnet.in> Date: Tue Jul 19, 2005 Subject: GUJARAT WATER LOGGING-A CASE OF DEVELOPMENT MINUS HUMAN FACE dnr3000 GUJARAT WATER LOGGING A CASE OF DEVELOPMENT MINUS HUMAN FACE The water has started receding in the water logged flooded areas of the State. Now the horrible picture of the villages is nakedly visible. There are dead bodies of the cattle, collapsed and damaged houses and the washed away roads, which were not visible due to water. The real threat of epidemic is on card.There are areas, which are yet not accessible. This natural catastrophe has brought the people together. There is a unique camaraderie. The Govt. and its administration are in total doldrums. They are clueless. There is a proverb 'empty vessel sounds more'. This is the state of affair of the Government. and its administration. As usual it is busy in Govt. GRs, paper works, media briefings, VIP's visit, holding videoconferences with Multi-Media savvy Chief minister etc. People have totally, lost faith in the administration. Under these circumstances the small efforts by the people, their self-initiative and the humanitarian attitude is helping the people in distress. This was the case during the killer Earthquake. The Government of Gujarat is exploiting this very humanitarian spirit of the people to cover-up its non-functionality. Water Logging - Cause of the Flood The recent flood is the outcome of the unprecedented water logging. The water logging has been due to the serious unplanned, erratic developments with least concern for environment, ecology and people. A close nexus of Builder lobby- industrialists-NRI-share holders-MNCs-kulaks- Government and the bureaucracy has prompted so called development minus the HUMAN FACE. Moreover the market economy has further sidelined the people. There was no rain in the upper basin. The water logging through out the State without the threat of flood or overflowing of water in the rivers and is a revelation for the planners of our country and the State. The People have realized that the flood has been caused due to water loggings. This water logging has been due to wrong town planning, wrong construction of EXPRESS HIGH WAY No. 1 between Ahmedabad- Baroda. This Express High Way divides the green pastureland without any out let for the flow of water. This caused the water logging both the side of the Express High Way and marooned the villages between Express Highway and the National High Way. The Narmada Canals construction is also so constructed that the rainwater cannot be released into the canals. Rather the network Narmada Canals have created water logging too. The breaches on the road, big holes expose the level of corruptions. The meter gauge railway line has been converted to Broad gauze from Surendranagar to Bhavnagar of Saurashtra region. The old meter gauge has the scope of outlet for water drainage. However, the Railway authority overlooked it and did not care to have out lets for drainage of water in spite of the peoples warning. Now all the railway lines were suspending in air and the broad gauge line created water logging in the villages. So is the case of conversion of National High ways to four lanes in Saurashtra regions and South Gujarat regions. All these constructions have cared least for the people of the villages. There were no rainfalls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, or upper basins, which usually cause flood. There was water logging in Ahmedabad but there was no flood. So also, there was water logging in Surat but no flood because there was no rainwater in river Tapi. The other parts of south Gujarat were inundated because there was heavy rainfall in Dang district and adjoining districts of south Gujarat. All the major towns like Navsari, Valsad, and Vapi were marooned due to water logging. The water in all these towns could not flow to the river. The causes of the recent flood. In a nut shell * Water logging due to express highway between Baroda and Ahmedabad stretching 93 kms, affecting all the villages between Baroda and Ahmedabad. * Raising the road level in four lanes in National High ways from Ahmedabad to Rajkot, Baroda to Surat and Sarhkej - Gandhinagar highway etc. causing water logging * Conversion of Meter gauge to Broad gauge from Surendanagar to Bhavnagar without the provision of natural flowing of water. * Construction of houses in low land areas resulting in accumulation of water. * Deteriorating sewage system. * Dumping the wastes, affluent in rivers like Viswamitri, Sabarmati. Etc. . * Obstruction of release of excess rain water in traditional routes due to the construction of the network of the Narmada Canals and sub canals in the villages * Mindless construction in the cities like Ahmedabad, Surat Baroda, Rajkot and other places including the Taluka place Prior to Deluge- Drought And Narmada Drought has become the part of lives of the people of Gujarat. There are over 18,000 villages in the state and more than 12,000 villages reel under drought. The specter of drought is felt much before the summer. During winter season, it becomes clear that the state is going to face another drought. The drought has become the routine affair. The state like Gujarat is supposed remain prepared to face the droughts. But the successive Governments may be of Congress, BJP, Janata coalition, all these governments have tried to sell the dream of Narmada waters for last 19 years at least. In the name of eradicating drought, only Narmada project was pushed ahead at the cost of other minor and major irrigation projects. Thousands of projects were shelved. The Narmada stick was invented to curb the voices on the issue of Rehabilitation official Secret Act was used and all kind of Human Rights and Civil Rights were violated in the name of sacred Narmada Project. Parochial passions were raised starting from Chimanbhai Patel to Narendra Modi- all posed themselves as the Bhagiraths of Gujarat. Narendra Modi as a true successor stole all the credits of Narmada and allowed the water of Narmada to flow in the river Sabarmati and other parts of Saurashtra. Religious festivals were held to greet the water of Narmada in the parched land of Saurashtra. But it was the time of assembly elections in Gujarat. People of Ahmedabad saw Narmada water in River Sabarmati. Everywhere Narmada was displayed colorfully to eulogize the single man's achievement of Modi to bring down the water of Narmada on the face of his critics and skeptics. The seeds of ugly parochialism were laid by Chimanbhai Patel and it was picked up by Narendra Modi to convert it into Hindu religious parochialism. Narmada and development of Gujarat became the rallying point or the focal point of creating the Euphoria of Gujarati Asmita(Pride) leading to the regimentation and finally the carnage. The Narmada myth was totally exposed during this year's drought. But the drought was managed through the media and Mr. Narendra Modi made other believe that the drought is manageable because of Narmada water. The precarious drought situation was totally underplayed. Only 1/4th villages were shown as scarcity and semi-scarcity hit villages.The Govt. is still guided by Scarcity Manuals. The Drought Code has not come into existence yet. To keep the Narmada Myth alive the drought was underplayed. About 10,000 villages were reeling under drought situation. There was no drinking water. In some areas, water in Narmada canal was flowing. But the villages were not allowed to use the holy water of Narmada. To use the Narmada water, the village Panchayats,Taluka Panchayats, local bodies were asked to pay in lump sum amount of money. The village panchayats revenue is very poor and they could not afford to take Narmada water on payment. If therefore, though the Narmada water was flowing in most of the drought prone areas in canals, they were to satisfy themselves watching it only. Whereas AUDA(Ahmedabad urban Development Authority) or AMC(Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation) can afford to take water from Narmada paying heavy amount and taxing the people of Ahmedabad. It means pay and take water of Narmada. Therefore, the Kulaks and the lead industrialists are preparing themselves to use Narmada water for their interest. The marketisation of Narmada water could not quench the thirst of the drought affected people rather tormented them. Welcome Rain to Deluge? The Gujarat Government and GSDMA were just waiting for a simple rain to escape from the drought. This year, the rain arrived unexpectedly- the prediction of IMD failed again to give proper report. The rain was a great relief to all after extreme hot days. It was more a relief to the Gujarat Government and GSDMA. They just wanted to get rid of the drought situations for another year. But the rain was unexpected. It rained and rained to create water logging. The Deluge Man Made? This flood is a blessing to the Sangha Parivar to bridge their so-called internal differences centering round Jinnah- Advani episode. The Ayodhya incident gave them more scope to act in more religeo-fanatatic way. Again this deluge will give immense scope to the Modi Govt. to profit over the people. Now a days calamities are opportunities for the market forces to play their role. So there will be business tuned to 12.000 crore and scope to oblige many and get prize. The Gujarat Disaster Management Authority's Disaster management The most ironical part is the story of much publicized acclaimed the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA). This high profile GSDMA came into existence after the Killer Earth Quake and has bagged some prestigious awards which the Modi boasts of as one of its great achievement. Our Party exposed it in our survey of the Earthquake in a document Titled 800 days of Earth Quake in reply to 700days of Earthquake prepared by the GSDMA. One after another, observation of our study was proved and the GSDMA was nakedly exposed. But the Carnage saved the Modi Govt. from it's inept handling of not only the question of Earth Quake but also the serious drought in the State. The Disturbed atmosphere after the Riot 2002 gave a fresh lease of life to Modi Govt. and to do what ever it like in the name of Vibrant Gujarat, Gujarat Ashmita etc. This flood has opened the eyes of the people. However, the episode of Ayodhya has again provided the Modi & co. reason to divert the mind of the people from the flood and turn the flood relief into the religion oriented one, creating serious social cleavage. As said earlier about two crore population are affected in flood. About 100 km radius is deluged in Baroda and Kheda districts apart from the areas of South Gujarat, Surat, and Surendranagar- Limbadi areas. The Gujarat govt. had no boats to reach the people or rescue the victims. It asked only for 50 boats to the Central Govt. for the rescue operation of at least one crore people. This very request to the Central Govt. exposes it's knowledge about the gravity of the situation. The boats were ordered from Bangalore. The officials were on duty to procure the boats from Airport. Ironically, Gujarat has the longest coastal belt in the country. There are thousands of boats available in the state only. They could have been pressed into the service. The roads of the Saurashtra regions were bit free. Even they could have been air lifted. Absolutely there was no preparedness by Govt. or it's high profiled GSDMA. They have not only failed for disaster management in the present flood, they have been failing from the killer earthquake to droughts . But the Gujarat Govt. is projecting this GSDMA to the whole world as a unique body and a model for disaster management. It is ready to advise all. When the State was reeling under drought that followed by the deluge, the GSDMA official were in Afghanistan .It went to Tamil Nadu Govt.to advice in Tsunami. The Tamil Nadu Govt. also showed willingness to set up in the line of GSDMA. Not only the Tamil Nadu Govt. but the Central Govt. too toed the line of the Gujarat pattern of the Disaster management. This may act as warning for all to distance themselves from the Gujarat style of Disaster management. Of course, these styles of Disaster Managements are funded by the World Bank like bodies and all the Govt. are greedy to snatch the loans and the opportunity to get the money The Relief Operation? There are no boats for the evacuation. People were stranded for days. The Govt. realized about the serious of the situation much later and the Military's service was sought and it arrived late. The full potentialities of the Military was not utilized. They were left without any guides.Of course they did some spectacular rescue operations. But finally they were asked to return prematurely as it was done at the time of earthquake 2001 in Gujarat. Now the cash dolls distribution is undertaken in a very shabby and undignified manner and has created discontent among the people . The Medical relief is yet to be started in full swing. The rural areas are very much neglected. The Civic Poll is due. So the incoming Civic Elections has become the moot point both for the ruling party and the opposition. The ugly motives is nakedly visible. There are reports of VHP and RSS stamping their seals on the Govt. Relief materials. The style of functioning is same as Killer Earthquake where all the relief materials reaching the Govt. were diverted to the Sangh Parivar. Whereas food supplied by the people to the government of Gujarat were stinking due to delay in distribution of food packets. The UPA Govt. is also trying to play it's political game. The 500 crore Relief from Centre has been main point of Congress's propaganda. Otherwise they are not present in any of the relief operation Mr. Modi was more worried about the loss of the state infrastructure than the people. It has not yet declared the relief package for the people. The Gujarat Govt. under Modi goes out of its way for its generosity for the sake of publicity stunt. Recently it did not loose a moment to declare a prize of 10 lakhs of rupees for the Jawans of CRPF on the Ayodhya episode. The Communal Harmony During Flood There are instances of numbers of Muslims sacrificing there live while saving the Hindu people stuck in flood. Two Muslim youths died while saving the life of a Hindu youth who clung to the light post for hours, in Saurashtra region. This very news has created a very congenial atmosphere. However centering round the Ayodhya episode the RSS - BJP - VHP are again trying to vitiate the atmosphere. Despite flood situation they found space for such demonstration. Surprisingly the RSS and their sister organisations are not found in relief activities. However, they came out in numbers in streets to protest on Ayodhya. We all know when the Surat city was inundated or marooned under water the RSS was holding their important meeting on Jinnah - Advani issue. The BJP leaders are not seen and avoiding the public. Special Relief Package It is strongly felt that this flood has been created by water logging. The people of most of the areas have never experienced such flood situation in their life time. The last floods in Baroda was in the year 1974. There was 70 inch of rain in 1927. This year rainfall was only 50 inch. It is 20 inch less. But the entire city of Baroda was marooned. So also other place. The people donor remember any flood in last 100 years in many place. This flood is more man made due to faulty planning that has been followed for so many years which has been discussed in earlier paragraphs. This water has been caused by the faulty planning of the Govt. So the Govt. totally responsible for the present catastrophe and for the loss of lives and property. If necessary, in absence of the proper relief package a special ordinance be promulgated to give adequate compensation to the victims such that they can be compensated and properly rehabilitated because the existing relief code promulgated in British Raj with little modification here and there is a drop water in the ocean. The help must be rendered to guard the human dignity and prestige. Nature has not only taken away the lives and property but the milk of the lives. It takes a long time to heal-up the wounds and come out of the trauma. Under this circumstances the Govt. must render financial help on emergency basis and without bureaucratic hassles, taking the care to preserve their dignity and not to reduce them to a sub human situation. Limiting the relief operation confined to cash dole distribution is an eye wash. It is desirable that All People's Committee be formed and the relief work operated with real humanitarian spirit. But the politicalisation of the relief is keeping the broadest section of people away from relief work directly or indirectly It is high time to stand by the side of the people at this hour of crisis and raise voices for proper rehabilitation on war footing basis. Dwarika Nath Rath D-10-7-05 |
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| << July20, 2005 - [India Thinkers Net]Marriage ,Global terror,MS University news |
July21, 2005 - [India Thinkers Net]Niger children,Dalit rights,Slum eviction,Nuke matters >> |
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