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Confusion over alert hits relief
operations
New Delhi, December 30 This was subsequently denied by Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal but not before it triggered panic and thousands fled their homes in the coasts of southern India. The confusion at the Centre also hit relief operations as several volunteers belonging to various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in extending help to the affected people started moving to safer areas. Consequent to the alert warning issued by the Centre, the Air Force and the Navy also started mass evacuation of people from the southern Nicobar islands to safer areas as a major aerial reconaissance was mounted over the remote island territories, much of which are submerged. The Air Force also started airlifting vehicles and staff to the Car Nicobar Island in order to launch a major rescue and relief operation in the interior parts, Defence Ministry officials said. The confusion started after the Home Ministry, which is the nodal ministry supervising the disaster management wing of the Centre, issued an alert around 10 a.m. to all Chief Secretaries of tsunami-hit states about the possibility of another tsunami in the Indian Ocean. The Home Ministry warning note asked the states to remain cautious and to put the administrative machinery on the alert in the coastal areas. It said the Navy, the Army, the Air Force and the Coast Guards had also been advised to be on the alert and provide all necessary help to the states for evacuation of people, if required. Taken aback by the panic following the Home Ministry’s alert, Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal said: “We have not issued any warning of a possible tsunami. There are no alerts of any earthquake”. Referring to the Home Ministry’s alert warning, Mr Sibal said: “Somebody somewhere gave credence to such unscientific information and presented it as an opinion of the government.” “They were, perhaps, not aware of the scientific basis of the said information.... and this is not the time for squibbling. It should be put to an end,” Mr Sibal told a press conference in the evening. Admitting that his ministry, which includes the Department of Oceanography, was not informed by the Home Ministry before issuing the “alert warning”, Mr Sibal said the confusion had occurred because of information received by the Department of Oceanography from an agency called M/s Terra Research, a small set up having four persons and located in the City of Portland, in the western coast of United States. Meanwhile, IAF helicopters and naval ships were making their way to the remotest parts of the southern Nicobar group of islands to re-establish contact with territories snapped by Sunday’s devastating seastorm. “Aerial dropping of cooked food and medicines is being undertaken in these islands most of which have been submerged by the rising sea waters”, officials said.  |
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Fernandes raps govt on relief
efforts New Delhi, December 30 “The government machinery has been found wanting at all levels in the relief and rescue efforts,” he said, adding the calamity has exposed the lacunae in our disaster management system. The number of casualties would not have been so high had the government taken concrete steps to set up a special department for disaster management, Mr Fernandes said returning to the Capital after touring the tsunami affected regions in South India. “I went on a two-day tour of the tsunami-affected areas in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, from Thirvananthapuram to Chennai. I met the people, and everywhere I heard the complaint that the government officials have not fulfilled their
responsibilities,” Mr Fernandes said. “Even during the tenure of the NDA Government, there were two major disasters, the Gujarat quake and the Orissa cyclone. On both occasions, decision was taken that a separate department be set up for the disaster management and personnel be trained to especially deal with calamities. But we were not successful in that,” he said. “This time also, nobody was in a state to react immediately,” he said. The
JD (U) leader, meanwhile, announced that all MPs and MLAs belonging to the party would donate their one month’s salary to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. On the alleged violation of Model Code of Conduct in Bihar, where a case has been filed for reportedly paying money to a woman patient, he said “someone in the crowd could have given the money, but to say that I gave the money or I was responsible for it is not
right.” Mr Fernandes said efforts are on to unite all “anti-Laloo” forces as whatever happens to Bihar has an impact on the rest of the country. |
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MPs asked to contribute Rs 11 lakh as relief New Delhi, December 30 The Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat have jointly appealed to the Members of Parliament to contribute Rs 11 lakh each from their quota of the Local Area Development Fund for the reconstruction projects in tsunami-affected areas. —
TNS |
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Benevolent poor overcome arrogant bankers Coimbatore, December 30 The reason was that rickshaw-pullers had brought their hard-earned money in the form of coins of Re 1, Rs 2 and 5 for the draft to be sent to mitigate the sufferings of tsunami-affected families of Tamil Nadu. Irked over non-issuance of draft against the coins, the poor daily-wagers had argued with the staff of the State Bank of India that the money was contribution from poor workers, but only to be removed by the security staff of the nationalised Bank at Fort, police sources said. Agitated over the incident, they resorted to dharna in front of the bank and alleged in public that the bank staff had refused to take the coins, for a noble cause, asking them to bring cash in large denominations. As tension mounted, police officials rushed to the spot and managed to convince the rickshaw-pullers and loadmen. Awakening from the ‘lethargic attitude’, some senior bank officials rose to the occasion and issued a demand draft for Rs.3, 500. Thanks, without charging the normal bank commission. The DD was later handed over to the district administration. Bank officials were not immediately available for their reaction. —
PTI
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