Tamil Nadu - Cuddalore   

Set up training camps on disaster management: Governor

Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE: Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala has called upon the voluntary organisations to set up, in collaboration with the government, "disaster prevention and mitigation training camps" across the State.

He suggested that they youths from disaster-prone areas for the training.

The camps or centres should conduct mock drills every year to prepare the people for any eventuality, Mr Barnala said.

The Governor was speaking at a function organised on Wednesday at C. Pudupettai near here to inaugurate the permanent houses built by SOS Children's Villages of India for the tsunami-affected people.

Mr. Barnala said it was a huge misfortune that natural calamities had claimed thousands of lives and caused tremendous loss to property.

Tamil Nadu was now facing floods owing to the heavy rain, and there had been threats of cyclones and depressions in the Bay of Bengal.

Hence, mitigation efforts had become imperative. He called for stepped up efforts at disaster prediction and acquisition of equipment to reduce the impact and lessen the damage.

Pivotal role

The Governor said that at times of disaster, the elected representatives of local bodies had a pivotal role to play in providing food, clothing and shelter to the displaced.

Health care and medical facilities should also be organised on a large scale and this could be done only with the cooperation of voluntary organisations. Mr. Barnala commended the SOS Children's Village of India for having taken up the construction of 125 houses in C. Pudupettai, and for having initiated family support programmes there.

He said that of all the constructions for the tsunami-affected people, this one was the best.

Earlier, president of SOS Kinderdorf International (KDI) Helmut Kutin symbolically handed over the key of the housing colony to the Governor.

The Governor also planted saplings and inaugurated the drinking water system.

Mr Kutin said that his organization had built a beautiful colony in C. Pudupettai and called upon the beneficiaries to cultivate a spirit of solidarity.

Cuddalore District Collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi said the organisation was constructing 125 houses (of which 50 are complete) on 4.96 acres of land given by the government.

The tidal waves claimed 45 lives in the coastal village, and only 43 bodies were recovered.

District Revenue Officer (Relief and Rehabilitation) M.S. Shanmugham, Project Officer (DRDA) D. Jagannathan, and deputy secretary general of SOS KDI Siddhartha Kaul also participated.

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