Every tragedy, whatever the cause, calls for united action. Kerala saw this year, what Chennai had seen three years ago: unprecedented floods. Something like this had last happened in God’s own country far back in 1924. To get an idea of time, 1924 is the year M Karunanidhi was born.
The magnitude of the calamity cannot be expressed in words. It’s not just the destruction to life and property. It is also the dent in the confidence level of the afflicted people that must be looked into. Like in the case of Chennai in 2015, Good Samaritans stepped in to alleviate the sorrow. Help poured from unexpected quarters: especially the local political class known to fight and bicker lifted their dhoti up to get into relief work. The army, the navy, and the air-force moved in. The fisherman community and the common man came in droves to help those marooned. In many of these places people live in small houses and own just kirana shops. Their life savings have gone for good.
Could have prepared better…
I do not intend to point fingers at this moment of crisis. But the news from the ground is that there could have been a better level of preparedness. A month ago a government report had named Kerala as the worst performer among south Indian states in the management of water resources. Maybe the severity could have been less if authorities had gradually released water from the 30 dams. That, of course, is easier said than done; for in the battle between man and nature, nature wins. Experts point an accusing finger at the Centre too because Kerala does not get an early flood warning from the Central Water Commission, the only government agency authorised to do so.
Poured from everywhere…
A back of the envelope estimate by the chief minister places the loss at Rs 20,000 crore. Money and relief material have poured from both southern and northern states. It’s also poured from abroad. Media reports suggest that at least 6 lakh people are stuck in 3000 plus relief camps. The floods have wreaked havoc on the plantation sector. The spice capital, Idukki, has gone under. Yet insurance companies aren’t sweating because Kerala has not taken large crop insurance policies!
And now the questions? Do we need a calamity of this dimension each time to bring out the essential goodness in the human being? Should we every time face the wrath of nature, or can we arm ourselves better?
Link the rivers…
First up, India needs to link its rivers on an urgent basis. The battle in the next few years is going to be over water. Our dams need to be well-managed. We need early warning signals and an efficient disaster management team. Next, we need planned urban living. Mindless urbanisation, cutting out of forests and ignoring climate change will only come back to haunt us. Social media, good on the whole, should show maturity eshwing the odd joke and the equally bizarre insensitive comments, that reduce things to petty politics.
For sure, Kerala will limp back to normalcy. That attitude is the nature of the human race and the Keralites are known to brave many things. The sad part is that once we tide over this crisis, the lessons may be forgotten. We must not let that happen. Let’s not forget that nature, water, wind, fire and space are all superior to the human race. We need to respect both environment and climate.
While Kerala is facing its worst disaster in a century let’s help rebuild God’s own country. It’s also time not to let another Kerala happen.
