Govt. evolving action plan to meet calamities

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, OCT. 10. The Pondicherry Government will evolve a comprehensive multi-departmental action plan to meet any emergency arising out of natural calamities, according to the Pondicherry Collector, Mr. A. Anbarasu.

The decision was prompted by a series of fire mishaps in the Union Territory and the recent tremors with its epicentre 50 km off the Pondicherry coast, he said inaugurating a workshop on the National Disaster Reduction Day organised by the Department of Revenue here today.

Mr. Anbarasu expressed concern at the rise in the number of encroachments, unplanned development and housing activities in violation of rules, and the haphazard traffic which posed a threat to the safety of road-users.

Updated manuals should be made available to the village-level staff with particulars of hospitals, police stations, school buildings and other infrastructure in the rural areas. This would facilitate quick relief and rehabilitation.

The government departments' failure to adhere to the rules and regulations led to the chaotic construction of buildings and houses. A comprehensive document on disaster prevention methods would be ready by 2010.

Referring to the rise in the number of slums and narrow lanes, leaving little space for fire engines to reach accident spots, he said people in the rural areas should be educated on how they should act during emergency.

Mr. Subash Chandra Bose, chief engineer (in-charge), PWD, said encroachments on the irrigation canal and tank beds were posing a problem to the irrigation heads in villages. He called for action against the encroachers.

He said sea erosion was posing a threat to the town and a technical study was being conducted in collaboration with the IIT, Chennai, to recover a good stretch of sandy beach.

Mr. Feroze Hussain, Superintendent of Police, explained the measures to be adopted during natural disasters.

The police were acting as a facilitator in relief work.

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