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Lok Sabha Debates

Discussion Regarding Natural Calamities In The Country. on 23 March, 2005

Title: Discussion regarding natural calamities in the country.

14.52 hrs. DISCUSSION UNDER RULE 193 Re : Natural Calamities in the Country श्री रूपचन्द मुर्मू (झाड़ग्राम) : माननीय उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, मैं आपसे बंगला में बोलने की इजाजत चाहता हूं।

उपाध्यक्ष महोदय : ठीक है, बोलिए।

*SHRI RUPCHAND MURMU : At the outset I thank you for giving me the opportunity to initiate a discussion on natural calamities under rule 193. Almost every year we talk about drought and flood in this august House. In 1999, there was an oceanic storm in Orissa and in 2001, Gujarat’s Bhuj was struck by an earthquake. Due to these natural calamities, there was large scale devastation in those areas. But Sir, what I would like to mention is that on 26.12.2004, there was a tsunami – which has utterly devastated various parts of the world. More than 2 lakh people have died, many have gone untraced. Sir Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand have been worst hit. Five States of India viz. Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar islands have suffered tremendous loss. According to the official figures, in these 5 States 10,273 persons have died, 5,823 persons are missing, more than 530 children have become orphans, crops spanning about 22 acres of land have been damaged, more than 36,000 animals have died. Besides ports, jetties, schools, colleges have collapsed along with the entire communication system. Sir, the relief measures have been undertaken by the Central Government on a war footing. Hon. Prime Minister had visited the devastated areas. UPA Chairperson and other hon. Ministers had gone there as well. From West Bengal, our Ministers like Shri Kanti Ganguly, Shri Gautam Deb have also been there. Military and para military forces have been deployed. Even the NGOs had done a great job. Actually the Central Government, State Governments have done a commendable job and I would like to congratulate __________________________________________________________________*Speech was originally delivered in Bengali.

the Government for this. We have already suffered a huge loss. Now, in any type of natural calamity, three aspects are there – rescue, relief and rehabilitation. Relief measures are yet to reach certain areas. But rehabilitation is most important. To combat the crisis situation, enough funds have been raised. The Government has announced a package of Rs 2731 crore. But this is a measly sum. West Bengal Government has limited resources. Still it has raised Rs 9 ½ crore for the PM’s relief fund. We, the members of CPI(M) party had asked our cadres to go to each and every house to collect aid – donations, foodstuffs, clothings. We, on behalf of our party have sent relief items and cash worth Rs 2 crore to Andaman Nicobar and Tamil Nadu. Some of our hon. MPs like Shri Ramchandra, Shri Shamik Lahiri, Shri Sujan Chakravarty had gone there with relief materials. The thing is that, the people who have suffered huge loss have to be adequately compensated. Women and children are worst hit by any natural disaster. In Indonesia, Thailand, children have been kidnapped, raped. However in our country, no such incidents have been reported. But there are complaints regarding distribution of relief materials. Government should be more vigilant in this regard.

I would like mention about the fishermen. They have lost everything they had. They should be given proper compensation. The agricultural tracts have been utterly damaged. They are filled with either sand or salt water. Government should take immediate steps to make the land cultivable once more, by using fertiliser, removing the sand and water or by whatever means it can. Sir, people who have survived the disaster are still sceptic, they are frightened of another plausible misfortune as earthquakes are occuring in some place intermittently. So I would urge upon the Government to appoint experts who would be able to predict the future of Andaman Nicobar islands. The educational institutions, hospital buildings which were destroyed should be built up once again.

We know that prevention is better than cure. But our country does not have proper mechanism to predict the possible disaster. Otherwise so many lives could have been saved.

15.00 hrs. It is seen that natural calamities are increasing in number due to a great imbalance in the environment. We have to protect our environment. Sir, some countries of the Pacific belt have evolved tsunami warning system. In this region in 100 years, 700 tsunamis have occurred. But they have been detected earlier by the tsunami warning system. I would say that such warning system must be installed in our country also. We have so many learned and expert scientists and researchers. We are fortunate to have an internationally acclaimed scientist as our President. He can contribute to a great extent in setting up such a tsunami warning system.

Sir, in 2002, 400 districts of 18 States had faced drought. The then Government did not announce it as a national disaster. When there were floods in some States, the Government did not send adequate relief materials. In States like West Bengal, Assam there are frequent floods. Recently, due to heavy snowfall in Jammu & Kashmir, people faced a lot of problems. I request the Government to take cognisance of the situation and try to help out the people who suffer losses.

With these words I would like to end my speech.

         

SHRI MANVENDRA SINGH (BARMER): Thank you, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir. My more learned Bolshevik colleague talked about the relief aspects of disasters and calamities. I will limit my talk to the management aspects of it.

I would like to first thank the hon. Minister of Home for committing the Government and making a commitment and a declaration in the House that India will finally see a National Disaster Management Authority. It is a commendable step. It is long overdue. India is unique in many aspects, but is also unique in this unfortunate fact of life that India has suffered more natural disasters of a larger variety than any other country in the world. So, this is a welcome step. I wish the hon. Minister of Home that these measures are expedited, that the House gets to discuss the creation of this authority, the House gets to discuss it at greater length. As I said, I will limit myself today just to the management aspects of it.

I would like to remind the House as well as the Minister that when India as well as other countries on the Bay of Bengal rim were struck by the terrible tsunami on the 26th December, the first Disaster Management Teams that were mobilised within India were from the State of Gujarat. That was because after having suffered the devastating earthquake in Gujarat, the Government of Gujarat had created their own State-level Disaster Management Teams. So, this as a body already exists in the country, albeit in a State. It would be useful to draw upon the lessons of how this body has functioned, in order to draw a national blueprint.

After all, the aim of any Disaster Management Authority is to minimise the damage (that is already happening), save lives, save livelihoods by helping those that are affected, protect their cattle, their animals or the other aspects of their livelihood. So, it requires that this proposed NDMA be as responsible and as responsive in terms of speed to the disaster zones as it is humanly possible. For any Authority to be responsive, to have the fastest possible response, that Authority must have the most decentralised functioning.

Then, it is possible. Decentralised authority in terms of decision-making and in terms of despatching the response team is required. It also requires that there should be decentralised monitoring agencies because India, being a vast country, is affected by various climatic zones or weather patterns in different parts of the country on the same day. The country will be affected by various weather phenomena which are completely contrasted with other parts of the country. So, that requires that this monitoring authority be decentralised in its functioning.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER. Hon. Members, please keep silence.

SHRI MANVENDRA SINGH : On 26th December, 2004, when there was an earthquake on the Coast of Sumatra, it does not take much more than a - if I remember correctly - 11th Standard Geography lesson to tell one that when there is a coastal earthquake or a sub-sea earthquake, it certainly has to be followed by Tsunami. However, because our monitoring system in the country is overly centralised, the measurement of data takes time and because the measurement of data takes time, the dissemination of information takes time and that time is invaluable in those few hours or minutes. When information is not shared to those who are likely to be affected, precious lives are lost, livelihood is affected, animal wealth and humanly-created wealth and all that had been created is lost.

So, to make decision-making responsive, it has to be decentralised. Response teams have to be decentralised. Monitoring agencies should be decentralised. That is one of my suggestions to the hon. Home Minister.

During the tenure of the former Deputy Prime Minister, and now the Leader of the Opposition, the subject of disaster management was quite rightly taken away from the Agriculture Ministry and placed in the Home Ministry. Quite rightly so, as it was long overdue. The Home Ministry is far more responsible in the sense that it covers more aspects of India's governance and has more linkages with India's administrative structure than the Agriculture Ministry. So, I am happy to note that that step was taken.

15.14 hrs. (Shri Ajay Maken in the Chair) I would like to suggest that this process be taken further and response mechanism of India's disaster management authority be not just limited to the Ministry of Home Affairs but also include the Ministry of Defence. It is ultimately the first to respond to any disaster in India. That rests on the ability of the military and on the Armed Forces - to react, to respond, and to bring relief supplies to the affected zone. It would be pertinent to point out at this juncture that India's response, the military response, the military moblisation after the devastating earthquake in Kutch, airlift of troops by the Indian Air force is a case study. That is a studied by various professional militaries around the world. The scale and the scope of that airlift into the disaster zone of Kutch is a case study in itself. So, obviously we have the capability, we have the experience. What is required is that we have put the structures around it so that the country respond as frequently as is required at a faster pace.

People who are affected should get their relief supplies, get their relief material much faster in order to save their lives. Ultimately, the most important point is to save lives. To use the military terminology, the KRA or the ‘Key Result Area’ of this Disaster Management Authority has to be to save human lives.

In this, I would like to add another point. In the process of creating this Disaster Management Authority, in the process of creating this structure and for it to function, I have already elaborated, I think, extensively on having a decentralized response mechanism, a decentralized monitoring mechanism and to take it further. I would suggest and recommend that in the functioning between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Defence, this responsibility, this creation of a response team mechanism be brought down to the lowest possible formation levels of the armed forces because the military formations live together, they train together, they practise together. Our disaster management team or disaster response team could be an aspect of this formation in their functioning. It could be at the brigade level or it could even be at the unit level in conjunction with the local Air Force stations, local Naval Stations so that the formation practices and its drills on disaster management, are in order.

Their training cycles include response to disaster; it includes lifting of supplies carried by air or by land, carrying relief material to disaster zones. We have seen the disaster after the Tsunami which was the first of its kind in recorded Indian history. Now, we see the highest snowfall in the Valley of Kashmir in the last 30 to 35 years. We have an Avalanche situation which we have not heard of in many years. So, the response mechanism, the response team has to cater to the obvious disasters in those areas. For example, the formation in the Valley would cater to train for response to disasters which are created by excessive snowfall. The team on the coastal regions could cater to a response to Tsunami kind of a situation or those within land could cater to situation like flood. About flood, I would like to point out that in our normal discourse about planning on disaster, we look at cyclones, we look at earthquakes and now, after the December Tsunami, Tsunami features very high on our agenda. But the disaster which happens almost annually, the disaster which affects the maximum number of Indians annually which affects the livelihood, which affects animal wealth, which affects assets, is the drought. It covers more parts of India. It covers more Indians annually than any other disaster. In our planning, I would request the Minister of Home Affairs to also keep in mind the monitoring mechanism as well as the response mechanism to drought. This is not just a parochial point because it affects my State or my constituency but it affects the neighbouring States, it affects more States than any other aspect of disaster and calamities.

Connected to this, there has been a talk for almost about five decades now, on the long-pending project.

One of the pet themes of the hon. President of India, since the time he was a senior scientist in the Ministry of Defence, is the inter-linking of rivers. The Government has made a commitment before the Supreme Court that the inter-linking project has not been shelved. It is a welcome commitment. I wish, the Government would go further on it, and I also wish that this House would have a debate on this issue of inter-linking of rivers because while one part of the country is reeling under droughts, another part of the country, at the same time, is suffering from floods. There cannot be a more contrasting situation in the country than what I have just elaborated on. So, the inter-linking of rivers could also be a project taken up or a study taken up by this authority.

As a last point, Sir, I would like to commend the hon. Home Minister again for his commitment. But at the same time, I would like to remind him that in the recently tabled Budget, under the head ‘Disaster Management’, there has been a serious cut back. But I hope, the hon. Minister uses his clout, his seniority and his conviction to restore that imbalance in the Budget.

Thank you for giving me the time.

SHRI MANORANJAN BHAKTA (ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS): Mr. Chairman, Sir, I rise to participate in the debate regarding Natural Calamities in the country initiated by my good friend, Shri Rupchand Murmu. I am grateful to him because he has specifically mentioned some of the good work for the relief and rehabilitation. He has also pointed out some of the points, which he thought fit for further better activities for the rehabilitation of the tsunami victims.

We have seen many calamities in our country, viz., droughts, floods and even the avalanches killing many people. But about tsunami, this is a new area which we have not experienced in the past. We have found that this is more powerful than any other such disasters, because more than 10,000 people, in a few islands, have either died or gone missing. Those who are missing, are not actually missing, they have gone forever.

Now, the main question is: what the Administration could do and what the Administration has done. Immediately, the whole Administration was deployed for the relief and rescue operations. Thereafter, the question of rehabilitation comes. For the relief and rescue operations, it took a long time, because the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are scattered islands with very small pockets, where it is difficult to land. Due to this disaster, many of the jetties got broken. There was no communication system. So, the helicopter was the only way by which one could reach the victims and provide them the relief materials. This took some time.

Sir, I also feel that nobody has had any experience to face such an alarming situation. But to some extent, there was a lack of planning also. But even then, what the Central Government has done is unique and commendable. On the very second day, the Defence Minister and the UPA Chairpeson, Shrimati Sonia Gandhiji visited Car Nicobar and other areas, and all proper instructions were given to the defence personnel for help. So, the defence personnel, civilians and officials of the Administration, all put together, tried to face the situation to save and rescue those who were blocked in certain areas including Campbell Bay.

Then, the question came of providing accommodation, as to how to resettle the victims, because their houses had been washed way in the tsunami waves.

So, it was necessary to construct temporary houses. That work is now going on. Perhaps the Home Ministry has taken it as a challenge. A number of officers have been deployed; relief material is reaching. They have targeted that, by the 15th April they should be able to complete the construction of temporary houses. Thereafter, construction of permanent houses will start.

Sir, I would like to say and place it on record in this House that the way the whole country stood by us during this time – irrespective of caste, creed, religion and language – is not equal to anything. Immediately, the Central Ministers – Home Minister, Agriculture Minister and Minister for Tribal Affairs – Ministers of State – Shri Jaiswalji, Regupathyji, Dr. Shakeel Ahamedji – and many other dignitaries visited the Islands. They tried to monitor the situation and, wherever the help was needed, they tried to provide that. I also acknowledge the way the Prime Minister reached there and immediately declared a relief of Rs. 200 crore. That is also commendable. Members of Parliament, including Members of this House – at the instance of the hon. Speaker – had volunteered Rs. 10 lakh from their MPLADS fund for the rescue and rehabilitation of the people, who were hit by the Tsunami. That is why, I would like to mention that we - the people of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and being their representative - cannot forget the way our countrymen stood by us. We feel that, whatever may be our differences in party politics and in other matters, India is one. This has been proved once again. So, I would like to thank all the hon. Members of Parliament for their best wishes.

Sir, when this situation has come, two or three points come to our mind. First is whether there is any system or mechanism available by which an early warning may be available so that the same may be percolated down to the people and they may take their position in safe places. But, I think, even in the past, there was some discussion on disaster management in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. I think some report was also prepared but nobody read it. We could not use the recommendations made in that report. However, now, the time has come when the fate of the Islands has to be thought of. It is necessary that the Ministry of Home Affairs, being the nodal Ministry, takes the initiative for scientific study of the Islands and, thereafter, makes a disaster management plan so that we may face any eventuality in future. Otherwise, it will be very difficult for us to face them as we live in the Islands, which fall in seismic zone. If we do not follow the system, which can provide information regarding earthquakes and Tsunami, there will always be problems. That will be in the interests of the Islands.

Sir, I would like to say that there is the rehabilitation package, which is before us, and the work is going on. There are some discrepancies; there are some lacunae. A good package also can have some lacunae. So, as and when they are detected, it will be the responsibility of the Government to rectify them. After all, what is the purpose of having it? What is the purpose of providing such relief and rehabilitation? We want that our people should be resettled in a much better way than they were in the past.

So, when we want to do that, we should see the ground reality or the ground situation. The ground reality is that the entire Andaman and Nicobar Islands was affected because of the earthquake and the following Tsunami. When the entire Andaman and Nicobar Islands was affected, there was a difference in degree of damage. In the Andaman district, agricultural land was affected and there was damage to concrete houses. In the Nicobar district, coconut trees got completely washed away and almost all the deaths reported from that district.

So, we will have to see all this while providing assistance. What is the assistance? The tribal Nicobaris live on coconuts. It is their only livelihood, and there is no other livelihood for them. If they are paid Rs.20 per tree as the compensation, it will be a very laughing situation because Rs.20 comes to the cost of two coconuts. When the Defence acquired the lands, they paid them Rs.5,000 per tree. When the Andaman and Nicobar Administration acquired the lands, they paid Rs.1,000 per tree. Now, they are proposing to pay Rs.20, which is very much less. At least, the minimum amount should be provided as compensation.

In Andaman, there is no big landowner and they are only small and marginal farmers. They have only 5-10 acres or 1-2 hectares of land. Their entire land is flooded with salt water. There was not only flooding of lands by salt water, but also their standing crops were lost. When this is the position, payment of Rs.2,000 per hectare as compensation for standing crops is not fair and it is absolutely impossible for them to live. When we want to re-settle them, we should purposefully do it, and it should be better than the past. That is my request.

I have some suggestions to make, through you, Sir. As regards fisheries, there has to be a payment of Rs.1 lakh in cash to the affected fisherman whose dongies and boats were fully damaged or lost. Immediate cash payment must be made for the repair of boats and dongies. Three months have passed since Tsunami struck and yet, they could not repair their dongies and boats. Replacement must be made of fishing equipments of those fishermen who lost their fishing equipment. They should issue permit for collection of logs to those fishermen who intend to purchase or make bonga dongies. They should allow selection of site for settlement of fishermen who lost their residential buildings. Compensation should be made to fishermen, self-help groups, unemployed youths, cooperative societies, vendors and fishermen. Immediate sanction must be made of soft loan under Rajiv Gandhi Financial Assistance to Tsunami affected fishermen. They should issue ration for six months. Even if their houses are repaired, they will have no income. So, how will they live? Sustenance is necessary for them at this stage. They should get the damaged cold storage repaired.

As regards agriculture, they should immediately announce a package of assistance to farmers whose crop and plantations are affected due to Tsunami. They should allot alternate hilly land whose lands are affected due to inundation of sea water. They should issue ration to all affected farmers for a minimum period of one year or till the land is reclaimed.

The Government should provide employment to at least one member from the affected families.

Payment of compensation of Rs.30,000 per hectare of paddy and vegetable.

Payment of compensation of at least Rs.8.25 lakh per hectare for coconut tree to the tribals.

Payment of compensation of Rs.50,000 to affected Government servants. Many Government servants are also affected by this calamity. Some Government servants who are still working, have seen their wives and children being taken away by the tsunami. Since they are the Government servants, they should not be discriminated.

Payment of compensation to affected shopkeepers and sanction of soft loan. Compensation of Rs.1 lakh to fully damaged building. Payment of compensation to partially and minor damaged building.

Sanction of soft loan for vehicle owner who lost their vehicles for replacement.

Due to tsunami, economic conditions of most of the families were affected. Therefore, a fresh BPL survey may be conducted to re-determine their economic status.

Immediate arrangement for payment of national security amounts to orphans and widows.

Repairs of damaged infrastructure on priority basis under time bound programme. This work is going on but some more speed is necessary because rain is coming very fast.

To provide employment to affected families under Food for Work or Employment Guarantee Scheme. I understand that the Andaman and Nicobar districts, having remote and backward territory, were not included in the 100 Days Employment Scheme. I request that these two districts should be included immediately so that they can benefit under the Food for Work or the Employment Guarantee Scheme.

Marketing of agricultural produce like arecanut and coconut should be immediately undertaken and growers helped.

Stay legal action for recovery of outstanding loan of affected families.

Waiving of interest on loan up to Rs.2.5 lakh including PMRY and other loan sanctioned under Rural Development Programme.

Development of allotted grazing land under Rural Development Scheme from PRI Fund Scheme considering the acute shortage of grazing land due to tsunami.

Issue of fodder and cattle feed on subsidised rate till the allotted grazing land are developed.

Permission to affected families for collection of logs from standing trees on their allotted land for construction of building and proper development of plantation crop Repair of sea wall on emergent basis, as there is inundation of seawater into the paddy field. Therefore, a re-survey be conducted to include all those affected for reclamation besides providing sluice gates at vulnerable points. Automatic sluice gates drain out accommodated water during low tide and gate closed during high tide.

All the vacant posts under plan and non-plan should be filled in immediately. The Government of India was kind enough to withdraw the ban on recruitment in public service for Andaman and Nicobar. Moreover, the Andaman and Nicobar Administration may be advised to take into confidence the Panchayati Raj Institutions for better implementation of Government policies and programmes.

These are some of the requests that I have made to the hon. Home Minister and the Government of India. I would like to mention categorically that the amount of Rs.821.88 crore which has been sanctioned for the relief and rehabilitation work is really unique. I would like to thank very much to the country, the Parliament and the Government for this. I thank once again for giving me this opportunity to speak.

MR. CHAIRMAN : We have a list of 40 speakers. Therefore, I would like to request to all the speakers to be as precise as possible.

DR. SUJAN CHAKRABORTY (JADAVPUR): Mr. Chairman, Sir, I thank you for giving me this opportunity. At the very outset, I would like to thank Mr. Rupchand Murmu for initiating this discussion. The issue has really been very important for the entire nation. The issue of natural calamity has come up again due to the two unprecedented happenings – one is Tsunami and its effects and the other is avalanches and snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir and other States.

In our country, obviously natural calamity is manifested mostly in flood and drought. Basically, it is an annual happening in the country. There are a very few countries which are having natural calamity every year and every time. In fact, our country is facing natural calamity twice or thrice a year. It is facing different sorts of calamities which is very unfortunate for our country.

I would like to concentrate on Tsunami and its effects. There is no doubt that the country is shocked. More than three lakh people have died world over. In our country also, the figure is huge. More importantly around 10,000 people have died and more than 50 lakh people have been affected. The official figure of the death toll may be more than 10,000, but according to the unofficial sources the death toll is much more. The detailed report has not been gathered by the officials at the very start of the incident. What I would like to say is that when on 26th December, the incident broke up, the entire country saw a total unpreparedness. I must congratulate the Government of India. There is no doubt that the Government has tried very sincerely. It is a fact. The Prime Minister himself rushed to the affected areas be it Andamans, be it Tamil Nadu be it Kashmir and the Government has tried to gear up the entire activities. But still because of unpreparedness, it could not be reflected in the total action. It also applies to different organisations, State Governments and NGOs. I come from West Bengal. The State Government of West Bengal tried to help people in Andamans. The Ministers and Members of Parliament stationed themselves at Andamans consecutively for one month. The involvement of people and different NGOs has been major. Since it is a calamity, this is a right type of action that we could have taken.

Mr. Chairman, Sir, I personally believe that the stand taken by the Government at the outset was very correct. Rather than begging for foreign aid to overcome the after effects of this disaster, the way our Government extended our support to the victims of this calamity in other countries was truly commendable. It was in keeping with the true traditions of India. While we ourselves were at distress, we were amongst the first few nations to rush in aid to countries like Sri Lanka and Indonesia to support them in their distress. My friends have already said about this. From all over the country people have contributed generously to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for this cause. The Government of West Bengal, different organisations and groups have collected money and contributed to the Relief Fund. People took the initiatives themselves to collect money in the streets in order to be able to effectively contribute to the Funds of the Prime Minister and of the Chief Minister. The local people, be it in Andaman or at Tamil Nadu had taken the initiative to help in whatever manner possible to help the victims of this natural calamity.

Sir, I would be failing in my duty if I do not refer to an incident that took place in Tamil Nadu. Today, in the country, most unfortunately on different occasions we try to divide this country on lines of religion and community. But the incident in Tamil Nadu has a positive aspect. In a village called Parangapetti in Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu, which is basically a Muslim dominated village, the people who were affected, particularly the fishermen, mostly belonged to the Hindu and Christian community. The Muslims of that village had a Mosque Committee and at the time of the disaster, they took the initiative to evacuate the people from the area, took them to safety places and gave them shelter. Around 7,000 people, mostly belonging to the Hindu and Christian communities, were given shelter by them.

MR. CHAIRMAN : Please conclude now.

DR. SUJAN CHAKRABORTY : Sir, being the first speaker from my Party, I was told that I would be allowed 15 minutes time and I have prepared in that way.

MR. CHAIRMAN: The total time allotted to your Party is ten minutes. You have already taken eight minutes. Now, tell me, what should I do?

DR. SUJAN CHAKRABORTY : Sir, I would then stop here.

MR. CHAIRMAN: I have already told you that there are 40 speakers to speak on this subject. So, please be as brief as possible.

DR. SUJAN CHAKRABORTY : These 7,000 people were given food and shelter by them. Even a marriage of the Muslim community was cancelled and the food meant for the guests were served to the victims of this disaster. I believe, we should welcome such incidents and we, the politicians should take a lesson from this incident and try to purify ourselves and imbibe such spirit of fraternity.

Sir, now the question is, why did such a devastating incident take place? We know the scientific reasons for it, but I do not wish to go into those details. Many mysteries of the earth are yet to be uncovered. The movement of the tectonic plates resulted in the release of huge energy, to the extent of 2.0 exa-joules which is equivalent to 150 litres of water boiling for the entire people of the world. It is huge energy. Oscillation of the earth has also been to the tune of 20 to 30 cm. The topography of the seabed has also changed. This may be the fourth biggest natural disaster since 1900 and the biggest natural disaster after Alaska in 1964. So, the gravity of this disaster could well be estimated. My question is, could it not have been predicted?

Science has developed to an extent that if we gear up ourselves, things can be managed. We are a natural calamity prone area and these areas are within seismic zones. So, could we not prepare ourselves? In fact, we did not join the organisation of 26 countries of the Pacific Ocean zone. But in this case also, I am sorry to say that the United States National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration called the NOAA had the information and they had predicted it. And they had passed the information to the military base of Diego Garcia and they prepared themselves as to what to do. But that information has not been passed to other countries and to our country as well. Even a radio message could have been given. It is very unfortunate and shameful on the part of very big country and it cannot be accepted. The initial response was that they had proposed to give 35 million dollars as support which is their breakfast expenditure in Iraq. In fact, they did not take it up properly. It is very much insulting that even the International Monetary Fund have announced adjustment of repayment of Indonesia which is due in February, 2005 but not waiving. So, the international community, a majority of them, have been taking it very seriously. But all of then have not responded properly. We should also keep it in mind.

I would like to place three other points here. One is the natural calamity. Causation is natural. But is the effect natural? No. Effects are not natural. We see that the effects of such incidents are more on the poor people and more on the less prepared countries. We will just take the example of parts of USA and Europe which are earthquake prone areas. But you will hardly find that much casualties more than 10,000 there. We had the casualty as 2000 in Uttarkashi in 1991. Latur had a casualty of 9000 in 1993. It was more than 10,000 in Orissa’s supercyclone and 13,000 plus in Gujarat earthquake in 2001 and more than 10,000 in the Tsunami of 2005. Such is the devastation! Hurricanes are happening more often in Japan and East coast of America but no such devastation happens there. Why? The average annual natural disaster kills in Japan is 63 and it is 2900 in Peru. Why is it so? The earthquake in California took place almost at the time of Latur earthquake but they had much less casualty.. .… (Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN: Please conclude. You have already taken 15 minutes whereas only ten minutes was allotted for your Party. Please conclude now.

DR. SUJAN CHAKRABORTY : Sir, practically, the question of disaster management is the most important thing. I would suggest only two points. One is, the first casualty was disaster management itself which I was liking to speak. It is total lack of coordination from the civil administration and the military administration. We have our National Civil Defence College and the National Fire Training Institute of Nagpur but we could not gear them up. Disaster Management Authority is going to be formed and things should be looked into very categorically on the basis of rescue, communication, transport, people’s involvement, etc. I would request you to consider Dr. Swaminathan Research Foundation and other organisations because much rehabilitation works are to be done on a scientific basis. Particularly, animals could understand it more. So, scientific research should be made in a proper manner that the forecasting and understanding of the whole issue can be done properly.

   

श्री शैलेन्द्र कुमार (चायल) : माननीय सभापति महोदय, आपने मुझे श्री रूपचंद मुर्मू द्वारा नियम १९३ के तहत प्राकृतिक आपदा पर होने वाली चर्चा में भाग लेने का मौका दिया, इसके लिए मैं आपका आभारी हूं। आप इसे प्राकृतिक आपदा कहें, कुदरत का कहर कहें या प्रकृति का तेवर, एक ही बात है। अपने देश में ज्यादातर तूफान, बिजली, ओलावृष्टि, बाढ़, सूखा, भुखमरी या बीमारी से कोई महामारी आती है, तो उसे हम दैवी आपदा ही कहते हैं।

अभी बहुत से सम्मानित सदस्यों ने सूनामी के बारे में अपनी बातें कहीं, खासकर अंडमान-निकोबार के हमारे सम्मानित सदस्य श्री मनोरंजन भक्त ने बहुत विस्तार से अपनी बातें कही हैं। जब भी समुद्र में ज्वालामुखी आता है, तो वह सूनामी को जन्म देता है। सूनामी को राष्ट्रीय आपदा घोषित किया गया है जिसमें तमाम लोगों ने, स्वयं सेवी संस्थाओं, एनजीओज, सेना के तीनों विंग्स, तमाम राज्यों के विधायक या सम्मानित संसद सदस्यों ने इसमें बढ़-चढ़कर सहायता दी है। दैवी आपदा में पीड़ित लोगों को खासकर स्नेह और स्पर्श की बहुत जरूरत होती है।

सभापति महोदय, ऐसी घटना अचानक घटती है, जिसमें जान-माल का काफी नुकसान होता है। यह आपदा गरीबों पर ज्यादा आती है। चूंकि जो गरीब होता है, वह हर दैवी आपदा से जूझते हुए अपने पेट का पालन करता है, इसलिए वह सबसे ज्यादा पीड़ित होता है। २६ दिसम्बर को ८०० किलोमीटर की रफ्तार से जो सूनामी आयी, वह एक जबरदस्त कहर था, जिसमें १० हजार के करीब लोग मारे गये। तमिलनाडु में ७,९२१, केरल में १०७, आंध्रा प्रदेश में १०५, अंडमान-निकोबार में ९०० और पांडिचेरी में ५७९ लोगों की जानें गयीं। अगर देखा जाये तो अन्य देशों में भी इससे एक लाख ६५ हजार के करीब लोग मारे गये। इंडोनेशिया में इसका कहर सबसे ज्यादा था, क्योंकि वहीं से सुनामी शुरू हुई थी। सूनामी के कारण अपने देश में ५,३२२ करोड़ रुपये का नुकसान हुआ तथा ७ हजार करोड़ रुपये की सम्पत्ति का नुकसान हुआ।

मैं निवेदन करना चाहूंगा कि तीन वर्ष पहले सरकार के पास तत्काल राहत के लिए एक योजना लंबित पड़ी है। वह योजना एयरक्राफ्ट में मोबाइल हैल्थ सेवा उपलब्ध कराने से संबंधित है।

15.59 hrs. (Shri Varkala Radhakrishnan in the Chair) इसके तहत जहां भी इस प्रकार की कोई आपदा आये, वहां हेलीकॉप्टर या हवाई जहाज को उतारकर, तुरंत मोबाइल सेवा देकर, उन तमाम पीड़ित लोगों को दवा-दारू का प्रबन्ध किया जा सकता है। अक्सर यह होता है कि जब भी कहीं कोई आपदा आती है, तो पीडित लोगों को वहां से निकालकर दूसरी जगह विस्थापित करने या अस्पताल ले जाने में काफी समय लगता है, जिसके कारण अनेक लोगों की रास्ते में ही जान चली जाती हैं, वे मौत के शिकार हो जाते हैं। मेरा कहना है कि केन्द्र सरकार के पास जो मोबाइल स्वास्थ्य सेवा तीन साल से लंबित पड़ी है, उसे प्राथमिकता दें ताकि ऐसी आपदाओं के समय हम उसकी सेवा ले सकें।

जहां तक लोगों के पुनर्वास की बात है, तमाम मकान कम्पोजिट मैटीरियल से स्थायी मकान बनाये जायें। जो सूनामी से पीड़ित लोग हैं, वे आज भी जंगलों में पडे हुए हैं, बेघरबार हैं। उनके लिए कम्पोजिट मैटीरियल द्वारा स्थायी घर बनाये जायें ताकि उन्हें एक घर मिल सके।

16.00 hrs. दूसरे, बचाव राहत और पुनर्वास में जो भी पैसा लगे उसकी कमी नहीं होनी चाहिए। इसके लिए मैं यूपीए सरकार और केंद्र सरकार को बधाई देना चाहूंगा कि उसने विदेशों से मदद न लेकर बल्कि अपने देश में जो दैवी आपदा आई, उसमें राहत एवं बचाव के लिए जो भी पैसे की जरूरत पडी उसमें कोई कमी नहीं होनी दी। पैसों का सही सदुपयोग हो, पीड़ित लोगों तक पैसा पहुंचे, यही हम सभी का प्रयास होना चाहिए। अब भी कभी-कभी अखबारों में पढ़ने को मिलता है कि अण्डमान में भूकम्प के झटके आ रहे हैं। इसलिए वहाँ जो लोग हैं उनको धैर्य और साहस देने की जरूरत है और जब इससे पहले भी सदन में यह बात उठाई गयी थी तो मैंने कहा था कि सही मायने में पीड़ित लोगों का पुनर्वास किया जाए। उनके सामने सबसे बड़ी जरूरत रोटी, कपड़ा और मकान की है, खासकर डेली के कमाने-खाने वालों की जो कि बेरोजगार हो गए हैं, उनके लिए रोजगार की व्यवस्था होनी चाहिए। यह व्यवस्था केंद्र सरकार को करनी चाहिए और जैसा कि केंद्र सरकार ने भी कहा है कि वर्ष २००७ तक चेतावनी तंत्र का विकास किया जाए ताकि चाहे तूफान हो या भूकम्प हो या कोई भी कहर आए, हमें उसका पूर्वानुमान हो सके ताकि हम जनमानस को तत्काल हटाकर सुरक्षित स्थान पर ले जा सकें और उनके जान-माल की रक्षा की जा सके।

दूसरी बात यह है कि सुनामी से प्रभावित इलाकों में जो बच्चे बेघर हुए हैं, उनको तमाम लोग गोद ले रहे हैं। मेरा निवेदन है कि गोद लेने सम्बन्धी कानून में ढील दी जानी चाहिए ताकि ऐसे बच्चों को भी सहारा मिल सके और उनका जीवनयापन ठीक से हो सके। नेशनल कैलेमिटी रिमोट सेंसिंग एजेंसी ने अध्ययन किया है और एजेंसी अध्ययन करके बताएगी कि अब तक कितना नुकसान हुआ है, कितनी आवश्यकता है, कितने लोगों को पुनर्वासित किया गया है, ये तमाम बातें हमारे सामने आएंगी। आपदा प्रबंधन प्राधिकरण की स्थापना की जानी चाहिए जिससे हम पीड़ित लोगों को सही मायने में राहत और सुविधा उपलब्ध करा सकें।

MR. CHAIRMAN ): Please conclude.

श्री शैलेन्द्र कुमार : महोदय, मैं समाजवादी पार्टी से अकेले बोल रहा हूँ इसलिए मुझे बोलने का अधिक समय दिया जाए।

कई जगहों पर कभी-कभी यह सुनने में आता है कि वर्षा के कारण बिजली गिरने की घटनाएं होती हैं। इससे भी उत्तर प्रदेश में इस वर्ष में २७ लोगों की जानें गयी हैं। यह भी एक बहुत बड़ी समस्या है जिसके लिए हमें उपाय करना चाहिए चाहे वह तड़ित चालक जैसे इन्तजाम जो बिल्िंडग्स को बिजली गिरने से बचाने के लिए लगाए जाते हैं, या फिर कोई और उपाय हो, उसे बस स्टापेज या पेड़ों के नीचे लगाने की व्यवस्था की जाए ताकि बिजली गिरने से होने वाली मौतों को रोका जा सके। महोदय, प्रति दिन ४४,००० तूफानी बारिशें होती हैं, १०० बिजलियाँ हर सेकण्ड में गिरती हैं जिससे हमें सतर्क रहना चाहिए। अभी दिल्ली में कल-परसों में बारिश हुई और ओले गिरे हैं। इसी प्रकार उत्तर प्रदेश में ओला वृष्टि से खेती चौपट हो गयी है और किसान बर्बाद हो गए हैं। केंद्र सरकार से निवेदन करना चाहूंगा कि उत्तर प्रदेश के लिए स्पेशल पैकेज देकर किसानों को कम से कम राहत तो प्रदान करे। साथ ही साथ बाढ़ और सूखे की समस्या से निपटने के लिए हमें एक ऐसी कार्य योजना बनानी चाहिए कि जब भी बाढ़ आए तो नदियों के किनारे बसे लोगों को तत्काल हटाकर हम उन्हें बचा सकें। इसी प्रकार जो सूखाग्रस्त इलाके हैं, जहाँ वर्षा नहीं हुई, वहाँ किसान तबाही की कगार पर हे, उन्हें भी मदद करने की आवश्यकता है। इसलिए केंद्र सरकार को एक ऐसी कार्य योजना बनानी चाहिए कि इसी प्रकार की दैवी आपदा तथा नुकसान से हम लड़ सकें। मैं इसी के साथ आपको धन्यवाद देता हूँ कि आपने मुझे बोलने का अवसर दिया।

श्री सीताराम सिंह (शिवहर) : सभापति महोदय, प्राकृतिक आपदा पर सदन में चर्चा हो रही है। माननीय अध्यक्ष महोदय ने इस विषय पर चर्चा के लिए स्वीकृति दी, इसके लिए मैं उनको धन्यवाद देता हूँ।

महोदय, प्राकृतिक आपदा पर चर्चा हो रही है। इसे हम दो भागों में बांट सकते हैं - एक ऐसी आपदा जो प्रति वर्ष आती है, जिसके आने की तारीख और समय निश्चित है और जो आनी ही है और दूसरी ऐसी आपदा जिसका समय निर्धारित नहीं है, जो अचानक आती है, जैसे सुनामी। आज पूरी दुनिया की साइंस काफी डैवलप हो गई है और हिन्दुस्तान की साइंस भी काफी डैवलप है। मैं भारत सरकार से कहना चाहता हूं कि जो आपदा अचानक आती है जो आपदा इस देश में अचानक आने वाली है, उसके लिए भारत सरकार की क्या व्यवस्था है? अगर व्यवस्था नहीं है और चाहे जो भी सरकार रही हो, तो क्या बरसों से सरकार इस प्रतीक्षा में बैठी है कि तूफान आएगा, विपत्ति आएगी या आपदा आएगी, उसके बाद उससे बचने और उसे जानने का प्रयास करेंगे। मेरा साफ कहना है कि समुद्री तूफान और सुनामी जैसी दुर्घटना इस देश के अंदर हुई। सरकार को इस बात के लिए धन्यवाद है कि सरकार ने काफी अच्छे और मजबूत मन से इसका सामना किया और लोगों को सहायता पहुंचाने का काम किया। लेकिन एक बात समझ में नहीं आई कि क्या हमारे देश में ऐसी साइंस नहीं है जो इस आपदा आने के दो चार घंटे पहले से बता दे कि ऐसी विपत्ति, ऐसी आपदा के आने की संभावना है। लेकिन यह नहीं हो सका। मैं सरकार को धन्यवाद देते हुए सिर्फ इतना कहना चाहता हूं कि आपने काफी प्रयास किया। इसके लिए स्वयंसेवी संस्था, राज्य सरकार और तमाम लोगों ने काम किया। मैं सुझाव देना चाहता हूं कि ऐसी आने वाली विपत्तियों के लिए, आने वाली आपदाओं के लिए आपकी तैयारी तो बाद में हो लेकिन उसकी जानकारी पहले हो, इसपर आप अधिक ध्यान केन्द्रित हो।

दूसरी बात मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि कुछ आपदाएं ऐसी हैं जो प्रति वर्ष आनी निश्चित हैं। कई माननीय सदस्यों ने इसकी चर्चा की है। मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि इस देश के कई राज्य ऐसे हैं जहां प्रति वर्ष बाढ़ आना निश्चित है। हमारा बिहार इसमें अव्वल दर्जे में आता है। इसमें उत्तर प्रदेश और असम का हिस्सा भी है, लेकिन बिहार का हिस्सो सबसे अधिक है। आजादी से पहले क्या हुआ, मैं नहीं कह सकता। लेकिन आजादी के बाद लगातार बाढ़ें आती हैं। पहली बात है कि बाढ़ को रोकने के लिए भारत सरकार के पास अभी तक कोई तरीका नहीं है। कई बांध बनाए गए, नदियों को मुड़वाया गया। आज बांध पुराने हो गए हैं लेकिन उनकी मरम्मत नहीं हो रही है। नदियों में बालू पूरा भर चुका है, नदियों का मुंह खत्म हो गया है लेकिन उनकी सफाई नहीं हो रही है। नदियों से नदियों को जोड़ने का काम नहीं हो रहा है। सबसे बड़ी बात यह है कि प्रति वर्ष जो क्षति होती है, उस पर करोड़ों और अरबों रुपये खर्च करने के लिए जोर दिया जाए। किसी भी सरकार ने इसकी कल्पना की होती और इसके लिए स्थायी प्रयास किया होता तो इसका स्थायी निदान निकल जाता और करोड़ों लोगों की आबादी की क्षति नहीं होती है, वह रुक जाती। बिहार में खासकर उत्तरी बिहार में जैसे शिवहर, सीतामढ़ी, मोतीहारी, बेतिया, दरभंगा, मधुबनी औरे उत्तरी बिहार का पूरा हिस्सा प्रति वर्ष बाढ़ से प्रभावित होता है । पिछले वर्ष भी काफी लंबी चर्चा इस पर हुई थी । मैं उस मामले में साफ कहना चाहता हूं कि क्या क्षति हुई थी लेकिन उस पर चर्चा के लिए लंबा समय नहीं देंगे ।

मगर मैं सरकार को इस रुप में सुझाव देना चाहता हूं कि वह हाई डैम बनाये। सरकार को नदियों को जोड़ना चाहिये, पानी को अपनी धारा में ले जाने का प्रयास करना चाहिये.। आप ब्रहमपुत्र पर ऐसा कर रहे हैं। तकनीकी सलाहकार की मदद से तैयारी करनी चाहिये। बिहार में जितनी बाढ़ आती है, उसका कारण नेपाल की नदियां हैं। भारत सरकार को नेपाल सरकार से बात करनी चाहिये जिससे समस्या का स्थायी निदान हो सके। पिछली बार चर्चा के दौरान माननीय मंत्री जी ने कहा था कि इस मद में हजारो करोड़ रुपया खर्च हो सकता है, लेकिन उसका खर्चा नेशनल प्रोजैक्ट बनाकर करना चाहिये। लगता है कि सरकार की सोच में कमी है। मैं इस अवसर पर कहना चाहता हूं कि सरकार तैयारी करे वरना सारा इनफ्रास्ट्रक्चर खत्म हो जायेगा। किसानों की खेती डूब जाती है, हजारों जानें चली जाती हैं, सारी परिसम्पत्ति खत्म हो जाती है। पुल-पुलिया ध्वस्त हो जाते हैं। उनकी क्षतिपूति नहीं होती है। ऐसी स्थिति में, मैं सरकार से कहना चाहता हूं कि वह गम्भीरतापूर्वक इस समस्या का निदान करे। सरकार ने शिवहर जिला को लिया है लेकिन सीतामढ़ी को ‘फूड फार वर्क ’ या सम विकास योजना में ले सकती थी। इसके अलावा मोतिहारी, बेतिया में बरबादी हुई है। मधुबनी, दरभंगा का भी यही हाल है।…( व्यवधान) सभापति जी, आपने घंटी बजा दी, अभी तो मैंने बोलना शुरु ही किया है। मुझे थोड़ा वक्त दीजिये।

सभापति जी, मेरा सरकार से आग्रह है कि पिछड़े जिलों को ‘फूड फार वर्क में लिया जाये’ या सम विकास योजना में लिया जाये। बिहार सूखे से आधा बरबाद हो चुका है। वहां प्रतिवर्ष सूखा होता है लेकिन सरकार ने उसके लिये कोई स्थायी उपाय नहीं किया है। भारत सरकार के मंत्री कहते हैं कि यह स्टेट गवर्नमेंट का मामला है लेकिन राज्य सरकार के पास कोई संसाधन नहीं। केन्द्र संसाधन दे, तभी राज्य सरकार कुछ कर सकने की स्थिति में होगी। स्टेट गवर्नमेंट सिंचाई की व्यवस्था नहीं कर सकती। भारत सरकार को इस पर विचार करना चाहिये। प्राकृतिक आपदा के अलावा प्राकृतिक विडम्बना भी है। बिहार की बरबादी ही बरबादी हुई है।

सभापति जी, मैं दो-तीन बातें कहकर अपनी बात समाप्त करूंगा। प्राकृतिक आपदा में ओलावृष्टि से भी जन-धन की बरबादी होती है। भारत सरकार का मौसम विभाग कभी पूर्व में इस आशय की घोषणा नहीं करता कि, ओलावृष्टि होने वाली है। मीडिया के माध्यम से उसे बताना चाहिये कि फलां-फलां इलाके में ओले पड़ने की संभावना है। मैं इसे वैज्ञानिक भूल मानता हूं या सरकार इस मामले में एकदम निष्क्रिय हो गई है। सरकार की इस संबंध में कभी सोच ही नहीं बनती है। जब तूफान आ जायेगा, उसके बाद राहत के नाम पर कुछ कार्यवाही शुरु होगी। मेरा सरकार को सुझाव है कि वह गम्भीरता से इस संबंध में विचार करे। यदि ओला वृष्टि की पूर्व सूचना मिल जाये तो किसानों को फायदा होगा।

अंत में, समय की पाबंदी के कारण मैं बहुत कुछ कहना चाहता था लेकिन प्राकृतिक आपदा से संघर्ष करने के अलावा एक पाइंट यह भी है कि जानी हुई बातों के स्थायी निदान के लिये सरकार को उपाय खोजने चाहिये।

 

श्री महेन्द्र प्रसाद निषाद (फतेहपुर) : माननीय सभापति महोदय, देश में प्राकृतिक आपदाओं के विषय पर चर्चा करने के लिए आपने मुझे बोलने का मौका दिया है, इसके लिए मैं आपको धन्यवाद ज्ञापित करता हूं । श्रीमान, हमारे देश में सुनामी लहरों से जो धन और जन की हानि हुई है और जो तबाही हुई है, उससे निपटने के लिए माननीय प्रधानमंत्री जी ने और माननीय गृह मंत्री जी ने जो महत्वपूर्ण कदम उठाए हैं, उसके लिए मैं उनको धन्यवाद ज्ञापित करता हूं । ऐसी दैवी आपदाएं जो व्यापक पैमाने पर धन और जन की हानि करती हैं, उनसे निपटने के लिए केंद्र सरकार के पास प्रधानमंत्री राहत कोष के अलावा कोई दूसरी व्यवस्था नहीं है । केंद्र के पास ऐसा कोई विभाग नहीं है जो भारत सरकार द्वारा दी जाने वाली राज सहायता की मोनिटरिंग कर सके या सहायता कार्यक्रमों को सही ढंग से क्रियान्वित कर सके और पीड़ित लोगों के हाथ तक सहायता राशि या राज सहायता पहुंच सके । इसका निरीक्षण करने के लिए केंद्र सरकार के पास अपना कोई विशेष विभाग नहीं है । राहत कार्यों में हम सेना की मदद से राहत कार्य चलाते हैं । सेना को स्थानीय प्रशासन के साथ मिलकर कार्य करना पड़ता है । जब स्थानीय प्रशासन या स्थानीय कर्मचारी सेना को सहयोग नहीं दे पाते हैं, सहायता देने के प्रति तत्परता नहीं बरत पाते हैं तो हमारी सेना के लोग पर्याप्त क्षमता होते हुए भी, संसाधन होते हुए भी उचित पैमाने पर बचाव कार्य करने की जितनी क्षमता है, वह स्पेशल सेल न होने के कारण, सही सहयोग न मिलने के कारण नहीं कर पाती है । मैं आपके माध्यम से कहना चाहता हूं कि हमको अपने देश के अंदर होने वाली इन दैवी आपदाओं और प्राकृतिक आपदाओं से निपटने के लिए एक स्पेशल सेल का गठन किया जाए जो इस सहायता के काम को देखे । यह प्राकृतिक आपदाओं की न तो कोई तथि निश्चित है और न ही स्थान निश्चित है । यह कभी भी और किसी भी समय, किसी भी स्थान पर हो सकती हैं । इसके लिए व्यापक पैमाने पर स्पेशल सेल का विस्तार होना चाहिए ताकि यह सेल पूरे देश में जहां कहीं भी कोई आपदा घटित हो, उस पर नियंत्रण पाने के लिए वहां की स्थानीय इकाई के साथ मिल कर काम कर सके ।

सभापति महोदय, कई प्राकृतिक आपदाएं छोटे पैमाने पर होती हैं जिनका क्षेत्र छोटा होता है और प्रहार सीमित जगह पर होता है, लेकिन वह प्रहार बड़ा आक्रामक होता है और उससे भी जन और धन की हानि होती है । चाहे अनावृष्टि का कहर हो, चाहे ओलावृष्टि का कहर हो, चाहे बाढ़ हो या आकस्मिक ढंग से आग लगने की घटनाएं हों, उन पर भी नियंत्रण करने के लिए हम उस स्पेशल सेल से काम ले सकते हैं । हमारे देश में चाहे गुजरात का भूकंप हो, सुनामी का कहर या जम्मू-कश्मीर में बर्फवारी या भूस्खलन जैसी दैवी आपदाएं हो, बड़े पैमाने पर घटित हुई हैं ।

सभापति जी, लेकिन हमारे पास आज भी ऐसा कोई तन्त्र नहीं बन पाया, जो हमें सूचित कर सके कि किस स्थान पर कौन सी आपदा घटित होने वाली है, जिससे राहत और बचाव कार्य का पहले से कार्यक्रम तय किया जा सके, उसकी व्यवस्था की जा सके।

श्रीमान, अभी हाल में, पूरे उत्तर प्रदेश में, खासतौर से बुंदेलखंड और पूर्वान्चल में जो ओलावृष्टि हुई और विशेष रूप से मेरे क्षेत्र फतेहपुर जनपद में अत्यधिक ओलावृष्टि से २०० गांवों से अधिक के किसानों की फसल पूरी तरह से तबाह और बर्बाद हो गई। उन्हें अपने खेतों से अन्न का एक दाना भी उठाने का मौका नहीं मिला। घरों की कच्ची खपरैलों की छतें टूट-टूट कर गिर गईं। हर प्रकार की तबाही हुई। प्रशासन जो मुआवजा देता है, वह पर्याप्त नहीं है। मैं सरकार के ध्यान में लाना चाहता हूं कि दैवी आपदा से पीड़ित परिवारों को जो मुआवजा दिया जाता है, उसका शेडयूल रेट बहुत ही कम है। मेरा निवेदन है और मैं मांग करता हूं कि इसकी समीक्षा होनी चाहिए और सही मायने में यह तय होना चाहिए कि जिस किसान ने बीज और खाद हेतु ऋण लिया है, यदि उसकी फसल ओलावृष्टि से बर्बाद हो जाती है, तो उसे इतना मुआवजा अवश्य दिया जाना चाहिए, जिससे कम से कम उसके नुकसान की भरपाई हो जाए।

महोदय, आज स्थिति यह है कि यदि किसान की फसल ओलावृष्टि से तबाह हो जाए, एक दाना भी अपने खेत से किसान को उठाने का अवसर नहीं मिले, तो उसके सामने समस्या खड़ी हो जाती है कि वह खाद एवं बीज हेतु लिए गए ऋण को कैसे चुकाएगा, अपने बेटे-बेटी की शादी कैसे करेगा और पूरे एक साल तक अपने परिवार का जीवन-यापन कैसे करेगा। यही कारण है कि ओलावृष्टि प्रभावित किसान भी आज आत्महत्या करने पर विवश हो रहा है क्योंकि उसका भविष्य अंधकारमय हो जाता है।

महोदय, मैं आपके माध्यम से सरकार से अनुरोध करना चाहता हूं कि ऐसी व्यवस्था होनी चाहिए कि दैवी आपदा से पीड़ित परिवारों को उचित मुआवजा मिल सके, बचाव और राहत कार्य तेजी से चल सकें। इस हेतु यह आवश्यक है कि एक आपदा प्रबन्धन औथोरिटी गठित की जाए। मैं इसकी मांग करता हूं और उम्मीद करता हूं कि उसका गठन किया जाएगा और आपको धन्यवाद देना चाहता हूं कि आपने मुझे बोलने का अवसर प्रदान किया।

SHRI A.K.S. VIJAYAN (NAGAPATTINAM): Hon. Chairman, this august House is now discussing under rule 193 about the natural calamities that affect our country. I would like to express my thanks to the Chair for providing me with an opportunity to take part in the discussion to record my views on behalf of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. After the formation of our UPA Government efforts are on to set up a Natural Disaster Management Authority. I thank the Government on behalf of our party DMK.

When it comes to natural disasters, we witness as a continuous tale floods on one part of the country and severe drought in another part of the country. But recently we witnessed a shocking devastation in the form of tsunami. It might have caused great destruction in many parts of the world time and again but the one we witnessed recently in Tamil Nadu was a great calamitous havoc in the recent history especially in the sub-continent. Coastal areas of Tamil Nadu had to bear the brunt and Nagapattinam district in my constituency was the worst hit coastal district in the southern peninsula. In and around my constituency alone more than 8000 people have died due to inundating tsunami that hit with swallowing waves. In our Nagapattinam district alone about 6000 people have died. In all about 6500 people have lost their lives due to this devastation that hit the sea shores of my constituency.

From Kodiakarai to Kollidam the writ of tsunami ran large leaving people high and dry. The enormity of the casualty and the extent of destruction and devastation were huge in these coastal belts of Tamil Nadu. The pilgrimage towns likeVehankanni and Nagore were the worst hit in the sense that more than a thousand people have died in each of these religious shrine towns. When such a vast destruction took place there was no immediate response from the State Administration to ensure that those who were still alive under the debris were __________________________________________________________________*Translation of the Speech originally delivered in Tamil.

saved. Some were even caught alive under mud and died due to delayed rescue operations. At this juncture I heartily thank our hon. Prime Minister, hon. Chairperson of the Advisory Council to the UPA Government Smt. Sonia Gandhi who had deputed Central Ministers to rush to the tsunami havoc hit areas. Union Ministers Thiru Dayanidhi Maran, Thiru T.R. Balu, Thri Mani Shankar Aiyar, Thiru Raja were all there immediately to console the people affected by that sudden and shocking national calamity. In fact the relief measures gained momentum only after the visit of Central Ministers to the affected areas. If waves come like a mountain it is tsunami, if mountainous force comes like wave after wave it is Jayalalitha’s corruption tsunami. A sizeable amount of funds meant for tsunami relief work were cobbled up by Jayalalitha’s AIADMK men and ruling party people that is those who are in power there in Tamil Nadu. Our party DMK’s leader and our alliance leader in Tamil Nadu Dr Kalaignar Karunanidhi has enlisted all such mishandlings and misappropriations with documentary proof and evidence. I feel it is my duty to record some of them here. In Vedaranyam area the relief assistance was taken away in the name of God. In Nalu Vethaapathy in Vedaranyan Taluk, as relief assistance a sum of Rs 4000 was given away to one Pethannasamy s/o Servarayan. On enquiry it was found out that the address given was that of a temple. A granite statue has received Rs 4000 as tsunami relief. The money in fact has been pocketed by an AIADMK worker in the name of God. Similarly, tsunami relief assistance was given away in the name of a CRPF constable Shri Saravanam s/o Saminathan who was actually on duty away in Punjab and was not at all there when tsunami hit the coasts of Tamil Nadu. In fact Government of Tamil Nadu has not given tsunami relief allowance to any of the Government employees in the worst hit Nagapattinam district. In a village called Pushpavanam, in the name of tsunami relief help there were corrupt distribution of money as ‘ageless’ wonders. Because, Veerapandian s/o Balasubramanian, Manikandan s/o Dhanapalan, Satish Kumar s/o Chandra Sekharan and Vasantha Kumar s/o Chelladurai are shown as eligible beneficiaries. But they are all tiny children aged 2, 3, 4 and 4 respectively. Hundreds of such cases are there.

Even landless farmers have been extended with relief assistance as if they were compensated for crop loss. This is continuing even now. In Aru Kaatu Thurai, Kodiakkarai and Pushpavanam the total number of boats are not more than 200. But the Government there in Tamil Nadu claims to have given relief assistance for 1500 boats there. In Nagapattinam district alone lakhs of rupees have been taken away by AIADMK which is a greater swallow than even that of tsunami. Even in contracts that have been given for relief and developmental work, only the local ruling party men have an upper hand. There also the completion of such work is far from being satisfactory. Crores of rupees mobilised by NGOs that reach those affected areas are also not spared from these grabbing hands. Corruption-free approach is a rare commodity now. Even in humanitarian work inhuman greed is rampant. I wish to draw the attention of the Union Government to look into this in order to ensure that really needy are not deprived of much needed help and assistance at this juncture.

In Nalu Vethapathy village the total number of family ration cards is 709. But the assistance is extended to 1161 families. Similarly in Peria Kuthagai village the existing cards are 667 but 685 are shown as beneficiary families. Likewise, Aru Naatu Thurai is another village with 667 family ration cards but it is recorded that thousand families are the beneficiaries. In Kovilpathu existing number of family cards 670 but the beneficiaries are 717. In Vella Pallam 1321 family card members are there. But the beneficiaries are shown to be 1415 in number. In Kodia Karai it is no different. Instead of 426 it is inflated as 667. In Vetta Karan Iruppu total family cards of 1949 is increased as 2622. In Cuddalore, the affected fishermen have gone on road blockade agitation yesterday because they could not get any meaningful and lasting relief assistance so far. They were all lathi charged and brutal attacks on them were let loose by the Government of Tamil Nadu. I urge upon the Union Government to safeguard the interests of those worst hit fishermen.

When it comes to construction of dwelling units, Union Government has proposed to extend an assistance of Rs 40,000 each. …( Interruptions)… I would like to point out that this is not sufficient. Normally, even for changing the roof of crematoriums Rs 35,000 is given from MPLADS funds. Hence I urge upon the Union Government to enhance the amount of this assistance from Rs 40000 to Rs 50000. When they are provided with well constructed houses care must be taken to ensure their safety and security. Construction and building materials must be of standard quality. Because the rehabilitation must be a lasting one.

Sir, the vast extent of damage and destruction we witness in places like Mayiladuthurai, Chidambaram, Cuddalore, Chengleput, Chennai, Sriperumbudur and Kanyakumari have shattered the lives of many. Hence I urge upon the Government to provide boats, fishing nets and needed help to carry on with their traditional livelihood.

Our leader Dr Kalaignar had appealed for providing permanent residential complexes for fishermen and their families and they must get their occupational tools and vehicles as their losses are insurmountable.

Urging upon the Government to provide relief to the families of missing persons and salt manufacturers also, let me impress upon the Government to take effective steps to seek recourse to salinated cultivable lands at the earliest.

With this, I conclude.

         

SHRI B. MAHTAB (CUTTACK): Thank you, Sir.

I am standing today to take part in the discussion under rule 193 which has been raised by Shri Rupchand Murmu regarding natural calamities in the country.

Of course, Tsunami is a point for discussion today but at the same time the other natural calamities of high intensity also need to be discussed as a part of this discussion.

It is gratifying to note that the Twelfth Finance Commission, in its Report, has recommended specifically the inclusion of pest attacks, landslides, avalanches and cloudbursts as natural disasters in addition to cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, fires, floods and hailstorms as natural calamities. These are the natural calamities identified in the Report of the Twelfth Finance Commission. All natural calamities other than drought are supposed to be dealt with by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

As has been rightly pointed out by some hon. Members here in this House, drought is slow death and drought affects large parts of our country but the system of identifying areas affected by droughts take quite a lot of time. By the time the Government or the administration wakes up to the situation, a lot of damage is already done. No relief or rescue measure is taken up instantly as it happens in the case of cyclones, earthquakes, floods or any other types of natural calamities. Therefore, I urge upon the Government to take this into consideration.

The idea that has been put forth by the Twelfth Finance Commission in its recommendation, as has been accepted by the Government, to include all these new items as natural calamities is going to be operative from April 1, 2005, for the next five years.

This will be a great help to different States which are affected by natural calamities. We heard about it in the hon. President’s speech and subsequently, of course, in the Budget also. It is proposed that a Disaster Management Authority is going to be created. Accordingly, a Bill is going to come, to build a institutional mechanism which will have powers for undertaking prevention and mitigation measures. These are the two major aspects of that Disaster Management Authority and it will develop the mechanism for ensuring preparedness, capacity building and co-ordinated response for various kinds of disasters. This will be a Central legislation which will provide for constitution of a National Disaster Management Authority under the Chairmanship of the hon. Prime Minister. We expected that the Disaster Management Bill, 2005, as has been proposed, would be coming up during this first part of the current Budget Session. As this is the second-last day of the first part of the Budget Session, we hope that it will be brought in the second part of the Budget Session. Of course, when that Bill comes up for discussion in this House, we will be discussing it in detail. But I would like to draw the attention of the hon. Minister because the calamity which struck the Indian Ocean Rim countries, be it Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand or Andaman and Nicobar Islands and our mainland , it is of a very large magnitude. There is no doubt about it. But there are certain issues which need elaboration to be discussed at this level.

Here I would like to draw the attention of this House, through you, on the deadliest tsunami. The recorded history of our human civilisation of deadliest tsunami is of 1883 which struck Indonesia’s Krakatoa volcano which killed an estimated population of around 36,000 people. The speed at which tsunami travelled varies. Deep Ocean tsunami travels fast. The Chilean tsunami hit Japan without affecting any other islands in the Pacific. It travelled for about 22 hours and it killed thousands of people in Japan. The earliest tsunami in our eastern coast, in fact, at Car Nicobar Islands, was on 31st December, 1881 and the recent one, other than the one which we faced on 26th December, 2004, was on 26th June of 1941. Indian Ocean’s plate movement has rendered India’s coastal areas vulnerable to tidal service for the next 100 years. As a result, the Central and the State Governments need strong policies to regulate these high value economic zones.

Recently Shri S. Ramchandra, the Director of the Institute of Ocean Management, based at Tiruvananthapuram, has said one thing. This is a very serious issue and I hope that the Government will respond to this.

He has mentioned the oil and gas explorations may be one of the reasons for the changes in the earth’s core. I think the Ministries of Ocean Development and Science and Technology, which are involved, are looking into this matter. They should come out with some statement on this. The Indian Ocean rim countries should become aware of this. India incurred relatively lesser damage, no doubt, than its neighbours along the Indian Ocean Rim because we find that from the Gangetic basin a deep gorge runs through the Bay of Bengal from the Bengal coast to Maldives and that has protected the mainland to a certain extent.

But, at the same time, I would like to draw the attention to the magnitude of this incident which has affected us. This tsunami has obliterated the air and naval bases at Campbell Bay at Car Nicobar; it has endangered nuclear safety at Kalpakkam; it has induced interruptions at the Interim Test Range at Balasore in Orissa and it has affected the operations of the Eastern Naval Command. This was the magnitude other than the loss of life and property. These are some major issues which also should be taken note of. I think there is a need for the military preparedness as well as there is a necessity to build a disaster management by the civil administration.

I, now, come to another important aspect. From Orissa’s super cyclone of 1999 to the earthquake in Bhuj in Gujarat in 2001, the flow of information was identified as the single most important system that needs to be made more effective in practice. The super cyclone and the earthquake exposed the serious limitations of our country, in India’s system of preparedness. India has no national disaster management policy. During the crisis, the State is in charge and Centre offers financial and material support. Different Ministries dealing with disaster rather create administrative crisis during the calamity. The disasters are treated as one-time crisis and the disaster management is a non-Plan expenditure. These are the five points which, I think, the Government should address and should take steps at the earliest to mitigate the problem.

I would like to draw the attention of the Minister of Home Affairs here that there is a need to have a Secretary-level officer who should look after the disaster mitigation. Unless that is done, you cannot deal with the problem cohesively.

The earthquake which occurred in the shore of Sumatra has created the tsunami which hit the South-East Asian countries. It travelled for more than four hours to hit our mainland and Chennai was witness to the gravest disaster.

If the information could have been supplied to Tamil Nadu and to other affected areas of Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, I think, the human casualties would have been much less. Therefore, I would insist that changing the State Department of Relief and Rehabilitation into Department of Disaster Management will not help unless they take up the responsibility of looking at the whole cycle of disaster management, that is, prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, relief and rehabilitation. If all these six aspects are taken into account, then only we can meet the natural disasters.

There is also a difference between a natural calamity and a national calamity which is to be treated as a natural calamity of high intensity. I think, other Members will speak in detail about it. We expect a good response from the hon. Minister of Home Affairs.

MR. CHAIRMAN : Please conclude now. There is a good number of Members who want to speak on this subject. So, there is not much time.

SHRI B. MAHTAB : Sir, I would conclude by saying that Orissa has been affected by all types of natural calamities. Orissa also falls in the seismic zone. Therefore, Orissa should get proper attention when a decision is taken on natural calamities and also natural calamities of national importance to enhance NCCF and CRF.

SHRI M. APPADURAI (TENKASI): Sir, at the outset I would like to thank the Chair for giving me an opportunity to speak on behalf of my party Communist Party of India. This House is not discussing about the natural calamities in the country. Sir, there can be several countries in a continent. But if there is a country that in itself is a continent, it is India. Here we find mountain ranges covered with snow throughout the year. Vast deserts are there. A long stretch of coast line is also there. Our country is situated in a tropical region as a meeting point of all the weather conditions. We have the western ghats that are one of the ancient mountain ranges of the world. We have youngest mountain terrain of the world and that is our Himalayan ranges. Sir, my constituency Thenkasi is situated in the western mountain ranges of the country towards its southern tip. I represent the people of that region which was the cradle of an ancient civilisation, an ancient race and an ancient language called Tamil culture and civilisation Tamil race and Tamil language. Podhigai hills from where Tamil was born is around my place. Nature’s plenty and bounty is there. May be because of that nature’s fury also shows up because ours is a wide and vastly varying environ. Sir, it is natural that our country is prone to all kinds of natural disasters because of its geographical location. Cyclonic storms, earthquakes, occasional tsunamis and avalanches, rains and floods and also drought are the calamities that hit hard the people in so many ways. We have learnt from history that tidal waves have swallowed Lemuria or Kumari continent of yore that had great Tamil kingdoms. The tsunami tragedy is a shocking disaster that has drawn the attention of the people not only from our country but from the entire world community. We are discussing at length its impact and the needed relief mission. Sir, unpredictable devastation and destruction come out of storms, quakes and tsunamis. But rain and floods and __________________________________________________________________*Translation of the Speech originally delivered in Tamil.

 

drought can be forewarned. Hence I urge upon the Union and State Governments to take preventive measures ensuring a well coordinated viable mechanism. Sir, if we had ensured mangrove forests along the sea coast we could have considerably reduced the impact of tsunami.

Sir floods can be overcome with effective water management. Drought can be overcome by timely intervention that can be gauged immediately after the failure of monsoon. Sir, tsunami the worst tragedy that had caused great havoc has affected the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Though the governmental agencies failed to rush in immediately, the general public and NGOs came with help and right humanistic attitude. We could have contained the loss of lives and property in the tsunami tragedy and managed well the relief work had we constructed cyclone shelters in the sea coasts already. Similarly had we identified effectively in advance the earthquake-prone- areas we could have ensured construction of houses in those fault line areas in an appropriate manner adopting suitable technology and techniques.

I would like to state that the people of those affected areas were greatly consoled and touched by the gestures of the Centre both in the form of visits to the devastated sites by the hon. Prime Minister, Union Ministers and Central teams and by the announcement of relief measures and allocation of funds.

16.54 hrs (Mr. Deputy-Speaker in the Chair) There is a proposal under consideration to construct a huge wall on our shores to protect our coastal areas from the possible tsunami in future. I do not buy this argument. Instead I would like to give a word of caution. I would like to point out what had happened to walls around Portuguese Fort in Porto Nova or Parangipettai and the Government constructed wooden wall structure around Mamallapuram shore temple. After the tsunami, it was found out that the recently constructed wall structures had been washed away but not the age old structures which had been raised with an exclusive technology that stood the test of time. The present rulers of Tamil Nadu evince keen interest to raise a wall on the entire stretch of Tamil Nadu coast. They may be hell bent on this as their intent is not so clean. They may be thinking in terms of amassing wealth by way of misappropriation in crores. Our popular poet late Pattukkottai Kalyana Sundaram sang, "The legislators as when they try to end pilferage by legislating, The decisive band of looters continue unabashedly."

Hence I urge upon the Union Government to see through the game and never give scope for those who are adept in misappropriation and never give in to their demands to construct a long coastal wall.

We face recurrent disasters in the form of both floods and drought. They devastate the country one and the same time when one part of the country suffers floods another part of the country is gored by the grip of drought. According to Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi, ever flowing perennial rivers are there in this country called Bharath. Every year we spend in lakhs and crores to mitigate the sufferings of the flood affected people both on the banks of Ganges and Brahmaputra. At the same time there is a strong plea for Rs 1000 crore from the southern States of Tamil Nadu to overcome drought and near famine situation. If we had efficient water management and water engineering with amicable water sharing formula much of our flood havoc could have been averted. That is why our national poet Bharathi as a visionary said that we can make our country fertile by way of linking the mighty river Ganges with Cauvery. I am not going to urge upon you to link immediately Ganga with Cauvery. But you can immediately go in for linking rivers of the south. That would help the people of southern States especially those who live in drought prone areas in a big way. I urge upon the Union Government to take concerted and coordinated efforts in this regard. Sir, both floods and drought can be fore warned and assessed in advance. Once monsoon fails we presume the impending danger in the form of drought in months to follow. Timely interventions are still lacking to overcome the evil effects of drought. Do we act immediately? It is only after the time has run out, our drought relief work starts. But in the meantime the farmers and agricultural workers meet with huge loss to the tune of lakhs and crores of rupees. We need to have preventive strategies in place. The Government must remain a safeguarding one before the disaster could occur. Improving water resources, channelising water canals, ensuring effective water management could help overcome the impact of drought on our economy and the economic activity of the poor. Mega water reservoir projects have helped us to remove drought in certain areas. Hence I urge upon the Centre to pursue them. Hon. Chairman Sir, the recent tsunami has taught us a lesson.

Sir, give me few more minutes to complete my speech.

The lesson that the tsunami has taught us is that there is no system in place called preparedness to meet any kind of natural disaster. Tsunami has shown that our country is not at all prepared. Sir, before governmental schemes are implemented I would like to impress upon you a particular point based on my observation. I live in Tuticorin, the coastal town. I have seen the impact of tsunami personally myself. Before the Governments could come with help, people across the country came forward to extend help and relief cutting across caste, creed and community. Humanitarianism was flooding in. Sir, our Minister of State for Finance has stated in this House that the extent of damage in the country caused by tsunami has been estimated to be about Rs 11000 crore. On first of March in a reply to a question the Home Minister has stated that Rs 8000 crore would be extended to affected regions under various schemes in the form of loans, subsidies and assistance. I believe that the tsunami damages can be much more than Rs 11000 crore. I urge upon the Government to ensure that none of these schemes remain merely on paper. It must be translated into action reaching the needy in time. Most of the people affected are poor fishermen. We are here to provide them with help to rehabilitate themselves. Rehabilitation is possible with long term plans to carve out lasting solution.

Sir, December 25th was Christmas. The next day the 26th of December was a Sunday. That is why many of our fishermen did not go to the seas for fishing. Otherwise the death toll could have increased manifold and it might have even crossed a lakh and above.

People who have lost everything they had may not be able to take loans or subsidies and hence they must have assistance fully to rebuild their lives.

I would like to point out at this juncture that some people are trying to keep in cold storage the Sethu Samudram project pointing a finger at tsunami. I understand that such views have emanated from the office of our Prime Minister. I would like to express a strong protest to any such move to delay the Sethu Samudram project any further. It must be noted that tsunami destruction was less in places where the sea depth was more. so the digging for Sethu Samudram project could only deepen the sea bed that can only help reduce tsunami impact.

Hence I would like to point out that Sethu Samudram project could provide a cover to possible tsunami impact in future. So I urge upon the Government to implement Sethu Samudram project immediately. Our Centre must set up an effective body for disaster management to stay in place for all times to come. As such it calls for coordination among three Ministries. This results in delay in plan and execution. Hence I urge upon the Government to set up an exclusive Ministry styled as Natural Disaster Management Ministry. I request the Government to seriously consider and bring before this House a Bill in this regard. Sir, the victims and affected people must have insurance cover. Similarly the farmers who have been affected by tsunami must have insurance protection in the style of crop insurance. Whatever be the disaster, the people affected the most are always the poor masses and the working class. The tears of crores of such people must be wiped out. Hence I urge upon the Government to take effective steps to protect and safeguard the poorer sections of the society from the onslaught of natural disaster.

With this, let me conclude Sir.

SHRI ZORA SINGH MANN (FEROZEPUR): Thank you, Deputy Speaker Sir.

Sometime ago, severe hailstorms lashed Punjab. Even now, reports of hailstorms are pouring in. It has wreaked havoc on farmers. The standing crop of wheat has been totally damaged. The farmers of Punjab are already in a miserable condition. They are neck-deep in debt and are committing suicides. There was a time when farmers were called the ‘provider of food’ but now they are finding it difficult to make both ends meet. Hailstorms have snatched away their means of livelihood and their families are suffering. My Lok Sabha constituency Ferozepur has suffered irreparable damage. The standing crops have been destroyed and farmers are in a state of shock. They have no money. They cannot buy seeds. They cannot purchase fertilizers. Farmers are in a miserable condition. Keeping in view their plight, I appeal to the Central Government to provide a special package to Punjab so that adequate compensation is granted to the farmers for the damages suffered by them. This will bail out the farmers and they will be able to get a good crop in future.

                   

*Translation of Speech originally delivered in Punjabi.

श्री कैलाश मेघवाल (टोंक) : उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, आज हम प्राकृतिक आपदा पर चर्चा कर रहे हैं। हमारे गृह मंत्री जी इस मामले में थोड़ा भाग्यशाली हैं कि इस संबंध में जो विधेयक आने वाला है, उस में आज की चर्चा कहीं न कहीं और किसी न किसी रूप में सार्थक सहयोग करेगी। हमारे देश में प्राचीन आपदायें आजादी से पहले और आजादी के बाद एक इतिहास रही हैं। यहां दो तरह की प्राकृतिक आपदायें हैं। एक तो वह जिनका हम अनुभव कर चुके हैं और दूसरी प्राकृतिक आपदा की आखिरी कड़ी सुनामी के रूप में जुड़ी है। यह प्राकृतिक आपदा जितनी भयानक और भयावह थी, आज से पहले कभी नजर नहीं आयी थी। हमारे यहां प्राकृतिक आपदायें आती रही हैं। अतिवृष्टि, बाढ़, सूखा आते रहे हैं। साइक्लोन, बर्फबारी आते रहे हैं। मैं आपसे इसलिये कह रहा हूं कि इन प्राकृतिक आपदाओं का हम अनुभव कर चुके हैं। इन अनुभवों के आधार पर एक कंसौलिडेटेड एक्ट आने वाला है। इससे कम से कम मनुष्य की चुभन की जो स्थिति बनी हुई है, वह एक्ट उसका समाधान करेगा, ऐसा मैं मानकर चलता हूं।

उपाध्यक्ष जी, हम प्रकृति की लीला को नहीं जानते । आज हम प्राकृतिक संसाधनों का उपभोग कर रहे हैं। उसके दो स्वरूप हैं। एक स्वरूप तो री-प्रोडक्शन का है, जिसमें हम अनाज पैदा करते हैं, खाते चले जाते हैं। दूसरा, हम ऐसे संसाधनों का दोहन कर रहे हैं जिससे पृथ्वी की संरचना में परिवर्तन आ रहा है। इस परिवर्तन से कब, क्या प्रतक्रिया होगी, उसकी कल्पना न तो आप कर सकते हैं और न हम कर सकते हैं। हम जमीन से तेल निकाल रहे हैं, कोयला निकाल रहे हैं, वे चीजें वापस नहीं जाती हैं। ज्वालामुखी लावा निकल रहा है। भू-जल भी ले रहे हैं। इस तरह पृथ्वी की संरचना में परिवर्तन आ रहा है। पृथ्वी की उपजाऊ परत कम होती जा रही है। यह पानी को रोकने में, रीचार्ज करने में प्रोटैक्शन में बहुत योग कर सकती है। ऐसी स्थिति में बर्फ पिघल रही है, गलेशियर्स में परिवर्तन आ रहा है।

उपाध्यक्ष जी, क्या आप शास्त्रों में विश्वास करते हैं? उसमें हमारे यहां प्रलय की भी कल्पना की गई है। यह कब आयेगी, इस बारे में कोई कुछ नहीं कह सकता लेकिन मैं इतना ही निवेदन करना चाहूंगा कि इन सारी परिस्थितियों को देखकर हम मानव की पीड़ा को प्राकृतिक आपदा में कम से कम करने में योग दे सकें, ऐसी स्थिति होनी चाहिये।

इस देश में न केवल केन्द्र बल्कि राज्य सरकारें भी प्राकतिक आपदा से राहत देने के लिये खर्च कर रही हैं। मुझे इस बात का अफसोस होता है कि हम एक लाख करोड़ रुपया अब तक प्राकृतिक आपदाओं में राहत देने के नाम पर खर्च कर चुके हैं मगर इसका स्थायी हल आज तक हम लोग नहीं ढूंढ पाये हैं। अब यह आवश्यक हो गया है कि जिन नदियों में बाढ़ आती हैं और जो आइडैंटिफाई हो चुकी हैं, उन पर तटबंध बनने चाहिये। हमारा १०० साल का इतिहास है, एक रिकार्ड है कि नदियों में बाढ़ आती है, वह अपना रास्ता किस प्रकार और कहां निकालती रहती हैं जिससे बाढ़ की विनाशकारी लीला पैदा हो जाती है। ऐसी स्थिति में क्या हम कुछ नहीं कर सकते?नदियों में बाढ़ आती है, उसके लिये आवश्यक है कि उन पर तटबंध बनाये जायें या किस तरह पानी के प्रभाव को रोकने की स्थिति हम पैदा कर सकते हैं।

अभी माननीय सांसद बोल रहे थे कि प्राकृतिक आपदाओं की पहचान हो चुकी है, लेकिन हम उनका उपचार नहीं कर पा रहे हैं । यह हमारी व्यवस्था का फेल्योर है । प्रकृति ने हमें जितना ज्ञान दिया है उसके आधार पर हम इस फेल्योर को दूर कर सकते हैं । आज तक का आपदा राहत प्रबंधन का फार्मूला संतोषप्रद नहीं है। नवें फाइनेंस कमीशन के पहले केंद्रीय सरकार की टीमें प्रभावित इलाकों में जाती थीं और उसके बाद धीरे-धीरे सहायता उपलब्ध कराई जाती थी । नवें फाइनेंस कमीशन ने फार्मूले बना दिए । दसवां फाइनेंस कमीशन उन्हीं के बनाए नियमों पर चला । ग्यारवें फाइनेंस कमीशन ने उसी को थोड़ा बहुत संशोधन करके फालो किया । क्या ये सही फार्मूले हैं ? फाइनेंस कमीशन के आधार पर हम प्राकृतिक आपदाओं के आकार का कैसे पता लगा सकते हैं? कितने विभत्स रूप में और कितने लोगों को आपदा प्रभावित करेगी, कितनी जन-धन की हानि होगी, उसका कभी पता नहीं चल सकता है । इसलिए आवश्यक है कि आज तक प्राकृतिक आपदा प्रबंधन के कार्यों से मार्गदर्शन लेकर, उनके अनुभवों को ध्यान में रखते हुए हमें एक नया फार्मूला निकालना चाहिए जिससे प्राकृतिक आपदा से मानव कम से कम पीड़ित हो और पशु तथा संपत्ति की क्षति में कमी लाई जा सके ।

उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, मुझे आज तक समझ नहीं आया है कि प्राकृतिक आपदाओं में राज्य सरकार की भूमिका पर अविश्वास क्यों है । केंद्रीय टीम को प्रभावित राज्यों में भेजने का क्या मतलब है ? केंद्रीय टीम नवें फाइनेंस कमीशन के पहले भी जाती रही है । वह कार्य अभी भी जारी है । केंद्रीय मशीनरी पटवारी से पूछती है, तहसीलदार से पूछती है, एसपीओ से पूछती है और राज्य सरकार के बड़े अधिकारियों से जानकारी लेती है। जब सारी जानकारी राज्य सरकार से ही प्राप्त करनी है, तो फिर राज्य सरकार पर अविश्वास क्यों है? मेरा मानना यह है कि यह अविश्वास की स्थिति समाप्त होनी चाहिए । राज्य भी अपनी मशीनरी रखता है । राज्य के अपने कर्मचारी हैं और राज्य सरकार जिस तरह का आ कलन भेजती है उसे केंद्रीय सरकार द्वारा तत्काल स्वीकार कर लेना चाहिए और जो प्रावधान हैं उन प्रावधानों की सीमा कम-से-कम प्राकृतिक आपदाओं के लिए नहीं होनी चाहिए । प्राकृतिक आपदा कहीं भी हो, किसी भी राज्य में हो जैसे गुजरात में विभत्स भूंकप आया था, अभी हाल में सुनामी त्रासदी हुई है । कई राज्यों द्वारा अपने आप मनेजमैंट नहीं हो सकता है । राज्य सरकारों की अपनी समस्याएं भी होती हैं । उनकी आर्थिक स्थिति ठीक नहीं होती है, कई राज्य कर्जे में डूबे हुए हैं, ऐसी स्थिति में प्राकृति आपदा से मानव पीड़ित न हों, पशु पीड़ित न हों, सारे देश को आधार बना कर यह पहचान करके कि कहां किस चीज की आवश्यकता है इस पर निरंतर निगाह रखने की प्रक्रिया शुरू होनी चाहिए । इस क्रिया से जो परिणाम आएंगे और जो तथ्य सामने आएंगे उनको आधार बनाकर हमें प्राकृतिक आपदाओं से बचने की व्यवस्था करनी चाहिए और यह जो अभी का फार्मूला है यह फार्मूला ठीक नहीं है । इस प्रक्रिया को आपको छोड़ना पड़ेगा और प्राकृतिक आपदाओं से इंसान तो किसी तरह बच जाते हैं लेकिन अकाल जहां पड़ता है वहां पर पशु धन जिस तरह से नष्ट हो रहा है, पक्षी धन नष्ट हो रहा है, हमारे वातावरण को जिस तरह से अकाल प्रभावित कर रहा है उनको बचाना है । आज तक अकाल से बचने की पर्याप्त व्यवस्था नहीं हुई है । हमारा पशु धन हमारे देश का बहुत बड़ा आर्थिक आधार है । अगर इसी तरह से पशु धन समाप्त होता चला जाएगा तो हम समृद्धि की तरफ आगे नहीं बढ़ सकते हैं ।

उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, यह बहुत बड़ा विषय है, क्योंकि हड़ताल भी हो जाती है, आन्दोलन भी हो जाते हैं, प्रदर्शन भी हो जाते हैं, मांग भी हो जाती है, लेकिन सब के आधार पर, पशु-धन को बचाने के लिए, पक्षी-धन को बचाने के लिए और पर्यावरण को बचाने के लिए जिस प्रकार के प्रभावी और प्रामाणिक कदम उठाने चाहिए, वे कदम आज तक नहीं उठाए गए।

महोदय, आप बार-बार घंटी बजा रहे हैं और समय भी काफी हो चुका है, इसलिए मैं अन्त में केवल इतना निवेदन करना चाहता हूं कि एक कॉम्पैक्ट, सार्थक और आज तक के अनुभवों के आधार पर एक ऐसा एक्ट लाया जाए जिससे सारे देश में जहां और जब भी कोई प्राकृतिक आपदा आए, उससे राहत मिले। यदि गृह मंत्री जी ऐसा एक्ट लाएंगे और ऐसी स्थिति पैदा करेंगे, तो यह देश आपका आभारी होगा। इतना ही बोलकर, मैं अपने शब्दों को विराम देता हूं।

उपाध्यक्ष महोदय : मैं हाउस के सामने एक प्रॉब्लम रखना चाहता हूं। I have a list of more than 30 Members to speak. अगर हम पांच मिनट लेंगे, तो भी मेरा ख्याल है कि डेढ़ घंटे से ज्यादा लग जाएंगे और यदि १०-१० मिनट लेगें, तो तीन-चार घंटे लग जाएंगे। इसलिए मेरी ऑनरेबल मैम्बर्स से दख्र्वास्त है कि वे अपनी स्पीच ले करना चाहें, तो सदन के पटल पर ले कर सकते हैं। ऐसी स्पीचें सदन की कार्यवाही का हिस्सा समझी जाएंगी।

मेरा निवेदन है कि माननीय सदस्य दो-दो और तीन-तीन मिनट में अपनी स्पीच समाप्त करें, तो मेरा ख्याल है कि अच्छा होगा। You will have to sit here for a long time. इसलिए मैं आपसे सहयोग चाहता हूं। ३० से ज्यादा मैम्बरों की लिस्ट मेरे पास है। नैक्स्ट श्री आर. प्रभू। मैं चाहता हूं कि दो-तीन मिनट में आप खत्म कर दें।

Next speaker is Shri R. Prabhu.

   

SHRI R. PRABHU (NILGIRIS): Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, we are discussing natural calamities in the country in the backdrop of one of the major national calamities in this country in recent times , namely, Tsunami. My friends have very aptly discussed the effects of the Tsunami and other natural calamities.

On December 26, a gigantic tidal wave, which is higher than the Empire State Building, taller than the Petronas Tower, travelling at a velocity of an aeroplane, came and hit the coast of India and, of course, Sri Lanka and other coast lines. This left a trail of destruction, devastation, death, people homeless, people losing their beloved ones, husbands losing their wives, children losing their parents. This is the kind of destruction, devastation that has taken place because of this holocaust of a great magnitude.

As soon as Tsunami hit, immediately the Central Government got into action. The Congress President Shrimati Sonia Gandhi, who is the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council of the UPA, hon. Prime Minister, hon. Home Minister, hon. Agriculture Minister and various Ministers visited the site personally. The respective Chief Ministers also visited the sites. Leaders of most political parties went to the site. The visit of the VVIPs and VIPs focuses attention on the magnitude of the calamity and focuses attention of the officers to see that rehabilitation and relief work is done on a war footing. I also compliment the citizens of this country who have suo motu and voluntarily donated a lot of money for the Tsunami relief. People have donated Rs. 2, Rs.5 also. If you see the newspapers, you can see pages and pages of small print that you cannot even read, of people who have donated money. I would like to express my gratitude, through you, to these people who have donated money for the Tsunami relief. I am sure, the other Members of the House will also join me in this.

Unfortunately, when we travel to the districts of Tamil Nadu, after three months since the Tsunami hit and see that still relief measures have not taken off. People are still living in temporary quarters. Their houses have not started being constructed. Here, there is higgling-haggling whether Rs.35,000 is enough or Rs.40,000 is enough or Rs.50,000 is enough. I request the hon. Minister to see – because two-room houses have to be built – that proper evaluation on the cost of building should be made and if it is Rs.50,000 or Rs.60,000, please see that that money is available to build for these people.

Sir, I am from the State of Tamil Nadu, and so, I am restricting my speech to the Tsunami hit people of Tamil Nadu and the problems there. Basically, people affected in the coastal districts are fishermen. So, if we have to provide relief to them, we have to give them boats. There are three kinds of classifications of fishermen. First is, people with big mechanised boats; second is, people with small catamarans; and third is, secondary people, who sell the fish. All these three types of people have been affected. Now, they are just living in temporary quarters, getting the food, which is dolled out to them, and some relief.

Sir, there is also another problem. These fishermen used to go into the sea, whenever it was rough or even when the weather was bad, without any fear. But today, whenever they see the sea, they have a fear complex. So, together with relief and rehabilitation also, there should be counselling for them. Counselling for them is a very important aspect. Those people cannot even sell their produce or whatever they catch because people think that they are going to get sick if they eat the fish.

Now, houses have to be provided for these people. They are afraid to go and live near the sea. They also cannot go and live too far away from the sea, because then they cannot go into the sea to catch fish. So, you would have to find an optimum site for them to construct houses. One suggestion is that the Salt Board of India has a lot of land in the seacoasts and whether they could donate some land for construction of houses. I would like the hon. Minister to pursue this idea.

Then, Sir, there is another constituency which has been affected. A lot of people are Scheduled Castes and Dalits who live along the coastline there. They have also been affected. So, their rehabilitation and relief also should take place quickly.

Then, there is the problem of students, young men and women, boys and girls who are going to schools and colleges. Of course, the Tamil Nadu Government has postponed their examinations for one month, but still they have to be counselled and taken care of, to see that they pursue their studies further.

Sir, my friend Mr. Vijayan gave a nice example as to how a temple deity was one of the beneficiaries and one of the people identified for relief, and a Two-year old boy, a Three-year old boy, a Four-year old boy were the beneficiaries. But my friend forgot to mention somebody who has been dead for the past 25 years was also named as one of the beneficiaries for relief. So, this kind of haphazard relief is taking place. I do not blame anybody. My friend from Tenkasi also said that there is massive corruption. All I can say is that here, in Tamil Nadu, there is an ego clash between the Centre and the State. We have a Chief Minister who speaks in the Assembly blaming the Central Government, blaming the Prime Minister, saying that enough relief is not coming. Then, relief is being doled out to people like this, to their party members.

Sir, the only way to do this and to see that relief reaches proper people, to have a proper delivery system and reache the people, would be to have a special purpose vehicle to see that relief and rehabilitation work is done.

We talk about money allocation. Thousands of crores of rupees are allocated. But do we know whether these thousands of crores of rupees do reach the proper people, to those who need rehabilitation. These people should be properly identified. So, if we have a special purpose vehicle, which is chaired by a person or a retired bureaucrat who is not an employee of the Central Government or the State Government today, then I am sure, this kind of a proper delivery system could be done. This would be a model for all disasters in this country.

A lot of our friends were saying about the Orissa cyclone and about the earthquake. Therefore, a model has to be created. The hon. Home Minister is going to have a Disaster Management Authority. That is fine. Let that Authority be in place. But when a disaster of this magnitude takes place, you should have, for every particular State, a special purpose vehicle, which is attached to this Authority. This should be a model for future.

Sir, I would just conclude by saying one or two more points. There has been a lot of talk that this Tsunami did not affect places which have natural protection. As our world has evolved, we have natural protection for everything. The hon. President also was complimenting our cricketers the other day, for winning the Kolkata Test Match in Eden Gardens. We won that match because of Kumble.

Who was playing in that match. Now, Kumble was there in one of the resorts in the coastline near Madras when Tsunami hit. He would have been swept away by Tsunami. But the only thing that saved him was that, in that beach resort, there is a small creek running alongside. So, the intensity of the Tsunami, the magnitude of the wave, was reduced and dampened. That is how he was saved. People think that our temple towns of Rameswaram and Velankanni were not affected probably because of spiritual reasons. But, there are scientific reasons also why they were not affected. It is because natural protections are there, coral reefs are there; coconut groves are there. That is the reason why they were not affected. So, my humble request is that we should not go and try to alter nature. We should not go and try to create a separate thing and try to protect where natural protection is there. We have a Chief Minister who is talking about building a wall along 1700 km coastline of Tamil Nadu. Sir, this is, as our friend said, to have a Tsunami of corruption only. This is not to protect the people of Tamil Nadu. In certain places, where there is Ocean indirect erosion , I can understand the need to have a protecting wall or retaining wall. That is fine. But a China-wall like thing along the coastline of Tamil Nadu is only going to spoil the whole ecology and beauty of the coastline.

Lastly, there is a folklore in the South. I do not know whether it is fairy tale or is true. But, it is said that whenever small red fish in large numbers are caught, then something is happening at the bottom of the Ocean. So, the fishermen would never go out into the sea. This time, even though a large mumber of these red fish were caught, the fishermen went out into the sea and they were standing there when the Tsunami hit them. We should have some warning system. We should join the South-Eastern Asian countries and see that proper warning systems are in place. Whatever is the cost, we should share that cost and have this warning system in place, at the earliest MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Next speaker is Shri Varkala Radhakrishnan. If it is possible, please conclude within five minutes.

SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN (CHIRAYINKIL): Sir, it is with a high degree of mental agony that I am participating in this discussion. Immediately after the occurrence, I had the experience of visiting the places like coastal areas of Kerala State and the coastal areas of Kanyakumari District. We had heard about natural calamities. We do read about them even in Papers everyday. But, this is a calamity which is unheard of in human history. The tragedy was so unbelievable that we could see several human beings suffering. I had the bitter experience of attending the cremation ceremony of 48 dead bodies on a single day. I had the bitter experience of witnessing the burial of dozens of people in a church and a mosque. I never expected to see such a thing in my life. How it happens, we do not know. But it was said that all of a sudden the sea rose and the entire seacoast was washed off. The poor fishermen living in the coastal areas had to suffer a lot. Immediately prior to the occurrence, the sea naturally withdrew. Then the fishes came out, people rose together immediately, waters came in and everything was washed away. In Alleppey district, there is a panchayat, which is 30 kms. or 40 kms. in length. On the eastern side, they were faced with backwaters and on the western side there is Arabian Sea. People were really between the deep sea and the devil. If they run to the east, they would fall in backwaters, if they run to the west, they would be in the sea. Such a situation arose in Aratupuzha of Alleppey District. The loss was horrible, which cannot be explained. We cannot narrate it. Such was the experience all around at all these places. I went around all these places. Most of the people do not know what happened. Members of the families are even today missing. No amount of words or no amount of relief work will be a substitute for the mental agony and the suffering of the poor fishermen who have been living for centuries on the seacoast of Kerala and Kanyakumari districts. I had the occasion to see all these things. We must realise one fact. We have heard of miseries in human lives. But this is a tragedy which we cannot describe in words. Such was the experience.

As far as the loss is concerned, it is estimated that in Alleppey District, the loss was about Rs.2,253 crores. I myself had seen it. The District Collector was with us. It is a very very rare thing that people came together to do rescue work. This must be commented upon. Relief measures came in abundance. The reputed newspapers, institutions, etc. started relief work and started collecting fund for relief measures. The Hindu collected a magnificent amount towards this fund; Malayala Manorama collected a magnificent amount towards this fund; Desha Abhimani also collected a magnificent fund towards this. All these funds were diverted towards relief measures in the coastal areas. But still it is not complete. Houses could not be built in Kanyakumari district. The loss near Kulachal, Suchindram, Karunagapalli, Alleppey and other places, is immeasurable. We cannot substitute or compensate that by describing in words or giving money. But people came in large numbers to help with all their humanitarian feelings. Lakhs and lakhs of people came to help these poor people, but that is not sufficient. They have lost their dwellings, which must be replaced now. I request the Government of India to consider this.

In Quillon District, 137 people died; in Alleppey District, 141 people died. There is one thing that I would like to point out. Anti-sea erosion or sea wall has more or less saved them a lot. If that was not there, the entire area would have been submerged. Sea wall is a safe measure, but that is not a sure measure. To some extent, with our experience we saw that the sea wall saved a lot. Lot of people had been saved because of this. I request the Central Government to prepare a package for constructing a sea wall along the coastal area so that such occurrences may not take place in future and people could be saved.

Living by the seaside has become a challenge now. People even now are fearing about it. I would also like to mention one more thing. The fishing industry is also heavily or adversely affected. There is no fishing activity now. Half of the fish could not be caught from these places and the fishermen say that the ground beneath the water is more or less damaged and no fishing is possible in those seacoast areas. After Tsunami, fishing has been adversely affected in those areas and that is a big problem so far as fishing community is concerned.

We should draw lesson from it and we should explore the possibility of restoring the fishing facilities that were there before Tsunami. Now, a wonderful situation has come about. The Government should take a serious view of the matter. I would like to mention this that Kerala is a well-reputed place for catching prawns; we call it chakara.People earn a lot of money from this. Thousands of fishermen flock together in Alleppey coast and catch it. Chakara is a very well-known name there and prawns are harvested there. But this time, it is adversely affected because of Tsunami.

I have even seen the sea rising above a certain level. It is a very bitter experience. I request the Central Government as well as all others concerned to do all that is possible. I have mentioned about Mata Amritanandamayi, the divine woman, who also belongs to the fishing community. She has collected crores of rupees through her followers. She has collected a huge fund, which is being utilised for the construction of houses for these poor people. I request the Central Government to amass all that is possible, give courage and give a feeling of safety to these people. I request the hon. Home Minister to consider these aspects. Funds should not be diverted for other purposes. There is diversion of fund by the State Governments, which should not be allowed. The entire amount allotted should be spent for the rehabilitation of the people who are affected by Tsunami. With these words I thank you.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Shri Devendra Prasad Yadav, please be brief. You have got only five minutes to speak. I have got a long list of more than 30 speakers. Otherwise, we may have to sit up to 1100 o'clock.

श्री देवेन्द्र प्रसाद यादव (झंझारपुर) : उपाध्यक्ष महोदय, मैं आपके आदेश का अनुपालन करने की कोशिश करूंगा।…( व्यवधान) आज सदन में प्राकृतिक आपदा पर जो चर्चा हो रही है, यह संवेदनशील मामला है। यह विषय ही बहुत संवेदनशील है।…( व्यवधान)

उपाध्यक्ष महोदय : मैं आपकी बात से ऐग्री करता हूं।

श्री देवेन्द्र प्रसाद यादव : महोदय, २६ दिसम्बर, २००४ को जिस तरह सुबह गत चार दशकों में आए विश्व के भीषणतम भूकम्पों से भी बड़े भूकम्प के कारण जो सुनामी लहर हुई है, उसके चलते उस क्षेत्र के तटीय इलाकों में कहर ढा गया और उस कहर से मौत और बर्बादी का मंजर सामने है। भारत सहित दक्षिण पूर्व एशिया में उस समय हजारों लोग काल के गाल में समा गए। इंडोनेशिया के बाद श्रीलंका ही एक ऐसा द्विपीय राष्ट्र था जहां जान-माल की सबसे अधिक क्षति हुई। मालदीव, मलेशिया, म्यांमार, बंगलादेश, सोमालिया, केन्या, तंजानिया, सैशल्स आदि सभी जगह सुनामी के कारण काफी क्षति हुई। लेकिन भारत के पूर्वी तटों विशेषकर नागापट्नम और अंडमान-निकोबार के द्वीपों में अधिकतम विनाशलीला हुई। केरल, आंध्रा प्रदेश, तमिलनाडु, पांडिचेरी और उसके तटीय क्षेत्रों में जान-माल की काफी क्षति हुई। अभी तक जो अनुमान है, ऐग्ज़ैक्ट फिगर नहीं कही जा सकती, कितने मछुआरे मारे गए, समुद्र के तट पर बसे हुए लोगों को मौत के मुंह में जाना पड़ा। अनुमान है कि दस हजार लोगों की जानें गईं हैं और लाखों लोग विस्थापित हुए हैं जिनमें ज्यादातर गरीब मछुआरे हैं। उसका आकलन सही नहीं हो सकता। अनुमान से जो आंकड़े बताए गए, ऐसा कहा जाता है कि ६९ हजार करोड़ रुपये की सम्पत्ति की भी क्षति हुई है। देश में आए हुए अभूतपूर्व राष्ट्रीय संकट के बावजूद भी सुनामी से तबाह पड़ोसी देशों के आंसू पोंछने का काम भारन ने किया। यह एक सराहनीय कदम है। साथ ही ऐसी अभूतपूर्व स्थिति में, विपदा और आपदा की स्थिति में इतनी बड़ी प्राकृतिक आपदा से निपटने के लिए भारत ने विदेशी सहायता लेना अस्वीकार किया। मैं समझता हूं कि आपने देश के स्वाभिमान का नया कीर्तिमान स्थापित किया है। मैं इस बात के लिए यूपीए सरकार की सबसे ज्यादा प्रशंसा करता हूं। आपने देश के स्वाभिमान के झंडे को ऊंचा किया है, मजबूत किया है।

क्योंकि इस देश में जो पुरुषार्थ है, उसे आपने खैरात पसंद नहीं बनने दिया। अपने देश में जो संसाधन हैं, पीड़ित मानवता की सेवा करने की क्षमता है, उस पर आपने काफी मजबूती से काम किया। आपको बाहर के देशों से कहा गया कि आप प्राकृतिक आपदा से निपटने के लिए जो भी सहायता चाहें, वह हमसे ले लीजिए। लेकिन भारत सरकार ने, संयुक्त प्रगतिशील गठबंधन की जो सरकार है, उसने बड़ी विनम्रता के साथ कहा कि इतनी बड़ी प्राकृतिक आपदा से निपटने के लिए हम विदेशी सहायता नहीं लेंगे। सरकार की ओर से यह भी कहा गया कि फिलहाल उसे सहायता और पुनर्वास के लिए विदेशी मदद की जरूरत नहीं है। यह अच्छी बात है।

मैं इस बात को कहना चाहता हूं कि जिस तरह से देश ने आपदा प्रबंधन मैनेजमैंट बनाने की कोशिश की है, मैं नहीं कहता कि पर्याप्त मैनेजमैंट हो गया, पर्याप्त आपदा का मुकाबला हो गया लेकिन आपदा में फंसे अन्य देशों की सहायता भी आपने की। हमारे देश ने आपदा में फंसते हुए भी अड़ोस-पड़ोस के देशों को जो सुनामी लहरों के चलते पीड़ित थे, उनकी भी सहायता करने का काम किया। यह एक सराहनीय काम है। मैं समझता हूं कि पूरी दुनिया में अगर किसी देश को खैरात देने की बात करें, रिलीफ फंड बनाने की बात करें, तो वह उसे स्वीकार करके कामयाबी मानता है। लेकिन अकेले भारत ने जो स्टैंड लिया है, निश्चित रूप से वह सराहनीय स्टैंड है कि अपने देश में जितनी दौलत है, जितने भी संसाधन हैं, उसकी बदौलत आपने पुनर्वास के साथ-साथ दूसरे देशों को जो सहायता देनी थी, उस सहायता को आपने अंजाम देने का काम किया।

प्राकृतिक आपदा का आखिर निजात क्या है ? इस बारे में कई सजेशन्स माननीय सदस्यों के आये। लेकिन उसके लिए कोई स्थायी उपाय नहीं है। मैं निवेदन करना चाहता हूं कि परमानेंट सॉल्यूशन होना चाहिए। एक फॉरकास्िंटग नेटवर्क, चेतावनी प्रणाली को यहां विकसित करना होगा कि जो क्षति हो रही है, उस क्षति में कमी कैसे आये, इसकी पूर्व सूचना कैसे प्राप्त हो जाये। विज्ञान, साइंस टेक्नोलॉजी बहुत डेवलप कर गयी है इसलिए पूर्व फॉरकास्ट नेटवर्क स्थापित होना चाहिए।

मैं इस संबंध में कुछ सुझाव देना चाहता हूं । चूंकि इसी तरह की घटना बिहार में हर साल आती है। बिहार में छ: महीने बाढ़ और छ: महीने सुखाड़ रहता है। उत्तरी बिहार के २१ जिले पूरी तरह से बाढ़ में डूब जाते हैं। देश में प्राकृतिक आपदा आती है तो उसकी कोई सूचना नहीं होती। बाढ़ से तटबंध टूट जाते हैं, घर उजड़ जाते हैं तथा करोड़ों रूपये की फसल बर्बाद होती है। वहां कमलाबालान, कोसी, बागमती आदि नदियां तबाही मचाती हैं। वहां नेपाल से पानी आता है। मेरा निवेदन है कि वहां परमानेंट स्थायी समाधान का एक रास्ता मल्टीपरपस हाई लैवल डैम बनाने का निकला था। इसकी डीपीआर बनाने के लिए सरकार ने पहल की है। इसके तहत विराटनगर में ज्वाइंट प्रोजैक्ट कार्यालय खोलने की बात की गयी है। नेपाल और भारत के सीमावर्ती इलाके में जो जल अधिग्रहण क्षेत्र है, उन सात इलाकों में ज्वाइंट प्रोजैक्ट कार्यालय खोलने की बात हुई थी। अभी १७ अगस्त को जब यह सरकार आयी तो उसने कुछ कार्यालय खोले हैं लेकिन अभी भी कुछ कार्यालय खोलने बाकी हैं। उन कार्यालयों में डिटेल्ड प्रोजैक्ट रिपोर्ट बनेगी ताकि बाढ़ का स्थायी समाधान निकल सके। ऐसी संभावना है कि उन नदियों से ३३०० मेगावाट हाइड्रो इलैक्टि्रक पैदा होगी। उससे देश में खासकर बाढ़ पीड़ित सात राज्य हैं चाहे असम हो, पश्चिम बंगाल हो, उड़ीसा हो, बिहार और कुछ भाग उत्तर प्रदेश के हैं, उन राज्यों को हाइड्रो इलैक्टि्रक सस्ती दर पर यानी १७ पैसे यूनिट पर मिल सकती है।

मैं एक सुझाव देना चाहता हूं कि डिजास्टर मैनेजमैंट के नाम पर हर साल अपने देश में १० हजार करोड़ रुपये से ज्यादा का खर्च होता है। अभी सुनामी के नाम पर ५०० करोड़ रुपये प्राकृतिक आपदा कोष या आकस्मिक आपदा कोष में बढ़ाये गये हैं। मैं यह निवेदन करना चाहता हूं कि इस पर जोर दिया जाये और लोगों को रिलीफ मैनडेट नहीं बनाया जाये। अभी दुख का समय है।

दुख का समय है, ठीक है। लेकिन भोजन के लिए, रसद के लिए, पैकेट या पॉलिथीन आदि क्या-क्या बांटा जाता है, इस पर ज्यादा जोर नहीं देकर, इसका स्थायी समाधान निकालने के लिए जोर देना चाहिए। उसके लिए योजना बनाई जानी चाहिए ताकि प्राकृतिक आपदा के नाम पर देश के जो दस हजार करोड़ रूपए खर्च होते हैं, सही कार्यों में लग सके। महोदय, जब कोई व्यक्ति पानी से डूबकर मर जाता है तो यह नियम है कि उसे ५०,००० रूपए देने पड़ते हैं और अगर घर बर्बाद हो जाता है तो उसे घर बनाने के लिए पैसा देना पड़ता है। इसके अतरिक्त देश के सूखे से प्रभावित ११ राज्यों में जो फूड फार वर्क प्रोग्राम चलाया जाता है, इसी प्रकार सूखा प्रभावित राज्यों के लिए चलाए जाने वाले कार्यक्रमों के लिए भी हमें पेमेण्ट करना पड़ता है। इसलिए मैं समझता हूँ कि इस पर अधिक जोर देकर जनता को रिलीफ माइण्डेड नहीं बनाया जाना चाहिए। केन्द्र सरकार का सुनामी के सम्बन्ध में जो एप्रोच रहा है, वह काबिले तारीफ है, लेकिन जनता को रिलीफ माइण्डेड नहीं बनाया जाना चाहिए अन्यथा यह देश पुरूषार्थहीन हो जाएगा। यह देश अपनी ताकत पर अपने पैरों पर खड़ा नहीं हो पाएगा। इसलिए आपदा के समय भी इस देश को रिलीफ माइण्डेड नहीं बनाया जाना चाहिए। उनके अधिकारों की और उनको जो क्षति हुई है उसका स्थायी समाधान निकालने की व्यवस्था होनी चाहिए, यही बेहतर समाधान होगा। इसलिए मैं निवेदन करना चाहता हूँ कि चेतावनी प्रणाली को विकसित किया जाना चाहिए। जब भूकम्प, सुनामी जैसी प्राकृतिक आपदाओं का हमें पूर्वानुमान हो सकेगा, पहले ही उसका एसेसमेंट हो जाएगा तो जान-माल की क्षति की रक्षा की जा सकेगी और जो दस-दस हजार लोग मर जाते हैं, वह क्षति नहीं हो पाएगी। आज जब साइंस एण्ड टेक्नोलॉजी इतनी डेवलप हो गयी है, हमें ऐसी चेतावनी प्रणाली का विकास करना चाहिए। इसीलिए मैं आपसे निवेदन करना चाहता हूँ कि प्राकृतिक आपदाओं का स्थायी समाधान ढूंढने का प्रयास करना चाहिए और देश के पैसे को बर्बाद नहीं किया जाना चाहिए। हमें योजना बनाकर इस पैसे को सही रास्ते पर चलते हुए खर्च करना चाहिए। इन्हीं शब्दों के साथ मैं आपको धन्यवाद देता हूँ।

THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF OCEAN DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAPIL SIBAL): Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I consider it a privilege to participate in this very important debate.

Sir, I want to preface my remarks by stating that I do not want to talk only about Tsunami today. The fact of the matter is that that natural disasters are of many kinds. There are also manmade disasters. We, as a nation, must be cognisant of all possible kinds of disasters and be prepared to, the extent we can, reduce the impact of the calamity.

Sir, I wish to invite your attention to what is called, the Himalayan Alpine Fault Range. The Himalayan Alpine Fault Range starts from Java and Sumatra and goes right up across the Himalayas into the Alpine Range. A very small portion of this Himalayan Alpine Fault Range is contiguous to the ocean. The rest of it is along the land, along the Himalayas. The reason for this Fault Line is that the East Coast of India was at one time a part of the Eastern part of the Antarctica. They were joined together billions of years ago. Over the years, the plate broke and after millions of years the Indian sub-continent was formed.

Sir, the fact is that the Indian sub-continent is constantly pushing against the Burmese plate and this constant friction ultimately is the cause for the frequent earthquakes. The movement of the plates is to the extent of five centimetres a year. This is something that we have, in fact, calculated from the Antarctica. One of the things that we are doing in the Antarctica is seeing the distance between the Antarctica and the Fault Line and seeing whether annually that distance is increasing and by how much. That will give us the speed at which the plate is moving against the Burmese plate.

   

This movement and pressure cause earthquakes. As I said, earthquakes are a constant phenomenon. They happen everyday because the plate is constantly moving and putting pressure. Now, at what point in time and at what place along the Himalayan Alpine range the pressure will result in a gigantic earthquake is something which is impossible to predict. Therefore, civilisation has not found a scientific method of determining as to when and at what place an earthquake will occur. The result of all this is that we are all always caught unawares.

There is a connection between an earthquake and a Tsunami. I want to explain that to the hon. Members of this House. The connection is the following.

Not every earthquake results in a Tsunami. There are earthquakes which are more than seven on the Richter scale which may result in a Tsunami but not every earthquake more than seven on Richter scale results in a Tsunami. The cause for the Tsunami can be an earthquake. It can be a volcanic eruption under the sea. It can be the fall of a meteorite or it can be any other natural phenomenon which we have not yet understood. But when that happens, there is a vertical displacement of billions of tonnes of water. Hundreds of kilometres of the ocean structure goes down a few meters displacing water vertically. The water when displaced ultimately has to find it equilibrium. That is the law of nature. And when the water has to find its equilibrium, the wave starts. So, we could predict the earthquake which resulted in the Tsunami. We do not know and we did not know the extent of water displacement that took place which ultimately resulted in a Tsunami.

Now, the Tsunami can be predicted. Luckily for science, it can be predicted. But I have to tell you that in the Pacific Ocean there is a conglomeration of countries under UNESCO which have set up the Tsunami warning in the Pacific system. But 60 per cent of all Tsunami warnings in the Pacific turned out to be false alarms in the Pacific. Confronted with this problem, the Government of India decided that we must set up a system which is more effective than the Pacific Tsunami warning system. We must set up a system which, in fact, in real time tells us as to when the Tsunami has taken place, how it is moving, at what speed it is moving, when it is going to hit different parts of the country and what kind of damage will it cause when it hits. For that, we need a few technologies. Firstly, we need what are called bottom pressure recorders.

SHRI TATHAGATA SATPATHY (DHENKANAL): Sir, I want a clarification The Minister’s speech is very interesting and enlightening. We are learning many things from his speech..… (Interruptions)

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: You can ask clarifications when the concerned Minister speaks. Nothing will go on record.

(Interruptions)* … SHRI TATHAGATA SATPATHY : There were news reports that the Meteorological Department had heard about the Tsunami and the earthquake two hours prior to when it hit the coast of India. But they sent the fax to some former Minister instead of sending it to the Minister concerned. Is that correct? This is a very loaded speech. If we err at that level, then we can imagine where we are.

SHRI KAPIL SIBAL: I think the hon. Member, in one sentence, has lowered the level at which we are debating the issue. So, I choose not to answer him. I think we should deal with the issue at a much higher level because this is a national issue and I am not just going to talk about the Tsunami alone. I am going to talk about all natural disasters. Let us not reduce the level of debate as to who sent the fax to whom. I do not think that is the issue that we are discussing today. The learned Member can ask a question and I will be happy to answer him in the Question Hour. Now, let me continue. … (Interruptions)

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: The Minister concerned will reply. He will clarify.

… (Interruptions)

 

* Not Recorded.

SHRI KAPIL SIBAL: I will be more than happy to enlighten him outside the House. … (Interruptions)

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: That should not be recorded.

(Interruptions)* … SHRI KAPIL SIBAL: Mr. Deputy-Speaker, the point that I was making was that we do have science today to actually set up a Tsunami Warning System. It will be more effective than the Pacific Tsunami Warning System. We have what are called Bottom Pressure Recorders. They are only devices which are set at the bottom of the sea which send sound waves to what are called data buoys at the surface of the ocean. Whenever there is a change in the pressure at the bottom of the sea, these sound waves will communicate that change to data buoys on the surface of the ocean. That, in turn, will communicate with a sattelite which will send the relevant data to earth station so that we will know real time, almost real time, the extent of change in the pressure at the bottom of the ocean, around six kilometres below the ocean. So, whenever a tsunami occurs and the crust of the earth has a vertical default resulting in vertical displacement of billions of tonnes of water, we will immediately know. Now, this Tsunami Warning System or these Bottom Pressure Recorders are available in the market. They are called DART. We can purchase them. That technology is available. That is not a problem. The problem is a little more complicated. You may know that the Tsunami is coming. You may also know the speed of the Tsunami. But at what point in time is it going to hit which part of the coast and how it is going to impact which part of the coast is very difficult to know because the tsunami may occur in different parts of the faultline starting from Java till the Himalayas, till, in fact, Myanmar, because that is the coastline which is adjacent to the ocean. We will have to calculate assuming that if a Tsunami takes place at one point, what would be the result if the speed of   * Not Recorded.

the Tsunami is assumed, how long will it take to reach different parts of the coast.

Now, the coastline is not uniform. You have creaks somewhere; you have open coastline somewhere; you have marshlands somewhere; you have construction somewhere. So, we will then have to see which is the weakest part of the coastline it will hit and cause destruction and the extent of destruction. What we need today is what is called bathymetric survey. It is nothing but determining the shallowness or the depth of the ocean along the coast, both East Coast and the West Coast. Once you do the bathymetric survey, once you know the depth of the ocean and the depth of the coastline, then you will have to prepare a software programme. It will programme at what time the tsunami might occur at a given point in time along the faultline, how it will impact, assuming it is travelling at a speed of 600 kms. per hour, how long it will take to reach a particular part of the coast. This software we will have to prepare all along the faultline. That would take a period of time. Once we have the Bottom Pressure Recorders, the Bathymetric Survey and the software, we will have to marry all these and then tell real time as to when the tsunami will occur and at what point in time it will hit which part of the coast. That is the process which we have already started. That is the project that we have already prepared. In fact, we prepared the outline of the project two days after the tsunami occurred. This whole process will be completed in two and half years and we will have a system in place.

Now, there has been a lot of criticism saying that India is not collaborating with the other parts of the world because we do not want to have an integrated tsunami system. The point that we made was that basically it is the Indian coast which is exposed. It is because anybody sitting in Indonesia and the tsunami occurring in Indonesia does not have the kind of time to save himself. It is because it occurs there and then. But it impacts India two hours or two and half hours later, or six hours later along the East Coast of Africa, namely Somalia and even Cape Town, South Africa. So, we have sufficient lead time to be able to give that information. What we have said is that we will set up a Tsunami Warning System and we will also collaborate with all the neighbouring countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Maldives, and South Africa. We will do it with anybody who wants to collaborate with us. We will do networking with them. In other words, information that we generate will be networked with Bottom Pressure Recorders installed along their coastline.

It will be networked with the bathymetric survey that they have done and all this will then be centralised at a station in Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh. This will be the real-time Tsunami Warning System. This is what we are planning and I wanted to inform the House about it.

The second aspect that I want to point out to you is that Tsunami happens once in a lifetime. In the last one hundred years, the known Tsunami happened only in 1941. So, it may be that the Tsunami may never take place in the next 50 years. Therefore, this particular system that we are devising will, in fact, be destroyed through fatigue because nobody will work for the System. So, what we are doing is that we are integrating the Tsunami Warning System with the Storm Surges System. We have already a Storm Surges System. We integrate that Tsunami with a storm surge so that the system will be worked every year. Why? It is because storm surges occur every year. So, the system will not suffer from any fatigue. That is one thing, and the cyclone is not involved here. This is what we are planning. But, let us look at it. Just forget the Tsunami for a moment and look at the fault line along the Himalayas. Let us ask the question whether, as a nation, we are prepared for the consequences of an earthquake of a Richter Scale of 8 and above, if it occurs along the Himalayan fault line. What is it? Is the nation prepared for it? The answer to that question candidly is ‘No, we are not prepared for it’. I, in my department, have already started the process. The reason why they are not prepared for it is because Zone-VI is the dangerous Zone – 200 kilometres along the Himalayas – where the maximum impact of an earthquake of this magnitude will occur. Then, Zone-V where Delhi falls and other parts of India fall - this is again a hundred kilometres this side – is the next most dangerous and affected Zone. Now, in order to know the impact of an earthquake of that magnitude, we will have to do what is called micro-zonation. In other words, we will have to divide the entire area along the Himalayan fault line into different zones. That we can do. After dividing into zones, we will find out what is the quality of clay, soil and the structure that is available in the ground. For example, the land rocky or filled with clay or are we dealing with a land fill. The danger to a particular area will depend on the nature of the soil. That micro-zonation has not started. I have, in my department, told my officers to, at least, start that process in Delhi. This is because of the fact that due to an earthquake it is the poorest people who are most affected. Why? It is because the poorest people live in Jhuggi-jhonpris, it is the poorest people who live in landfill areas; it is the poorest people who live away from the big colonies, and it is the poorest people who have no protection from earthquake. So, we must identify which are those areas – through the process of micro-zonation – that are going to be impacted the most. Take for example, the constructions that take place in India. Most of the constructions that take place in India, I am afraid to say, are without the kind of structural protection that is needed from an earthquake of this magnitude. It is very simple. Instead of putting columns in the ceiling, if you put columns and cross them at the bottom of the building, it will be earthquake-proof. But, nobody has taken care to look into this aspect. Therefore, before we do all that, before we change the bye-laws, we must do micro-zonation. I have ordered that this should be done and this process we will try to finish as quickly as possible. Then, you will have to determine different zones and we will have to have different strategies for different zones because one type of strategy will not help all the zones. Now, this is the prevention part. In other words, if you assume that an earthquake were to occur, it will help. We know that an earthquake will happen and there is, of course, a fault line in the Western area also. That is why, earthquakes have occurred in Latur, occurred in other parts of Western India, like Koyana.

18.00 hrs. That it is because of some fault line there as well. The hon. Home Minister knows very much about that aspect of the matter. That is also coming under the Himalayan fault line.… (Interruptions)

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Sibal ji, please take your seat for a minute. I have with me a list of 28 Members to speak on this discussion. If the House agrees, the time can be extended for one hour.

… (Interruptions)

SEVERAL HON. MEMBERS: Yes.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: All right, we extend the time by onhour.

SHRI KAPIL SIBAL: Sir, I am prepared to finish now. Since there are so many Members to speak, I can have a dialogue with the House another day. I have no problem.… (Interruptions)

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: You should continue. Please try to conclude.

… (Interruptions)

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Nothing will go on record except the speech of Shri Kapil Sibal.

(Interruptions)* … SHRI KAPIL SIBAL: Sir, I thank you. I appreciate it.

The point that I was making was that this process must start lest we are caught unawares tomorrow, lest people ask what was the Government doing. I am very happy to state – the hon. Home Minister will talk about it at length – that we have decided to set up a Disaster Management Authority.… (Interruptions)

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Lal Singh ji, the Minister from your party is speaking. Please keep quiet. Mr. Minister, please continue.

SHRI KAPIL SIBAL: The point is that the Disaster Management Authority should be an Authority of experts. It should have professionals who understand the *Not Recorded.

seismology. It should have professionals who understand the climate change. In Japan, for example, today, there are buildings which are structured in such a way that even if an earthquake with a magnitude of 7 and above on the Richter’s scale occurs, nothing happens to the buildings because the foundation of the buildings automatically shifts. But we have no such bye-laws in place. This is also something that the States must take care of because ultimately the construction activity is, as you know, a State subject. So, the States must be extremely concerned – especially Uttar Pradesh - as to what are the kinds of bye-laws which must be put in place to protect people from an earthquake of this magnitude.

Now, assuming an earthquake does take place, the first thing that happens in an earthquake is that all the electricity connections are broken. There is no communication. The first problem, as a nation, we face is that we must be able to communicate with our people. So, I think one of the things we ought to do is to have a dedicated frequency which will be a dedicated earthquake frequency so that it takes over all other frequencies in all channels on radio frequencies. The moment an earthquake occurs, even if you do not have electricity, our poor people in the villages have transistors which work through batteries and they will be able to get information about the earthquake immediately. So, these are the kinds of things that, as a nation, we must anticipate. A dedication of radio frequency must be there.

We know that when there is no electricity, people do not know what to do. We must have in place thousands of sets, simple sets to generate electricity by only cycling. I know that in the Ministry of Science and Technology, we can procure such sets. We have a process through which a person only by by-cycling, is able to generate electricity. We should be prepared for that so that electricity, water and information are immediately available.

Having done that, the next issue is food. There also, my Department, the CFTRI, has already supplied food during the course of the Tsunami. We have packets of food that are immediately available. But, Sir, this is limited to the immediate needs of the people. You know what a disaster does to the people.

I went to Antarctica. I have to share this with you. When I went there, I interacted with people who have stayed for about 12 to 13 months without any communication with the outside world. There situation emanates neither from a man-made disaster nor a natural disaster. But it still has disastrous consequences on their psyche. Please imagine yourself in the Antarctica where there is night for 24 hours a day for 8 or 9 months, where you cannot move out, when there is a snow-storm. If you move out, you cannot see what is beyond your nose.

In the Antarctica, when the temperature comes down to minus 40 degree Celsius, it is very difficult for you to expose your eyes. Your eyes turn into stone. Suppose you go out and try to repair something, but you cannot find your way back because you cannot even see where the building is. I would say that this is not a natural disaster or a man-made disaster. Yet conditons of isolation have has tremendous consequences on the psyche of human beings. Most of them lose their sense of balance. You can imagine the situation of a family in which young children had lost their lives due to the Tsunami. Before it occurred, the sea waves receded one kilometre. In many parts of Tamil Nadu, children ran out wondering at the natural phenomenon. Mothers ran after them. Some family members lost everything. What is the impact on their psyche. The question before us is how we can rehabilitate them and help them lead a normal life. It is a task, which we have to deal with. We must deal with it. This be done by the Government alone; it must be a united effort on the part of civil society.

When a Tsunami or an earthquake occurs, it is not only the people who are directly affected, who have to be rehabilitated but also others who are indirectly affected, as their everyday life depends on the people who are directly affected. Do we have any system in place for that? I say ‘No’. I think we in this House must together pledge that we should be cognizant of what we have to do when a tragedy of this magnitude occurs – whether it is a Tsunami or an earthquake or something like Sars or a man-made disaster. I shudder to think what will happen to my people in Chandani Chowk who have built houses are on top of another, ignoring all the building bye-laws. Most of the houses are fire hazards. Sir, wherever fire occurs, that, in itself, is a disaster. Is there any plan to deal with that situation? I say ‘No’. Does the local administration have plans in place?

Sir, I am very happy to say that the Government, through the Home Minister – he will tell you more about it – is looking at the entire concept of disasters, and the management of disasters in a very comprehensive fashion. We should have plans in place at the national level, at the State level or at the district level so that we can meet various kinds of contingency as and when they happen – whether it is a man-made or a natural disaster. I think, we, in civil society, have to rise together without asking any question, which my good friend asked, because we cannot reduce the tragedy of human beings to a political debate. We should not do that. I think the time has come for us to be united, walk together and work together for a solution to the problems and consequence of disaster. Thank you very much.

SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN : Sir, I would like to put one question before the hon. Minister. Sir, you have said about Japan where even if any earthquake takes place, nothing will happen to the buildings. In India, whenever somebody plans to build a building, he goes to the Town Planner who generally gives the permission. But, Sir, there are no structural designers. … (Interruptions)

SHRI KAPIL SIBAL: I will give you an answer.

SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN : I would like to know whether you want to continue this thing. I would also like to know whether it is not essential that the structural designers are available.

SHRI KAPIL SIBAL: I will answer you. As a young boy, I went to the United States and worked there for several years as a lawyer in Wall Street. One of the things that I experienced as a young man when I used to work on the 42nd floor of a building, near the World Trade Centre, was my office door closing, as the building used to move from our side to another. I realised that the building was structurally so designed, there existed such elasticity of steel that the building stood firm despite the swaying of the structure. Now, we have those structures. We have that kind of steel. We have that kind of technology. We have the human resource to build such structures. We also have the technology to ensure their safety.

श्री बची सिंह रावत ‘बचदा’ (अल्मोड़ा) : मान्यवर, बहुत ही संवेदनशील, महत्वपूर्ण विषय "प्राकृतिक आपदाओं के निकारण और निवारण " पर संसद में चर्चा हो रही है। जिस प्रकार समुद्र मंथन से १४ रत्न प्राप्त हुए थे इस विचार मंथन से भी निश्चित रूप से ऐसे महत्वपूर्ण एवं ठोस निर्णय निकलेंगें जो कि भविष्य में प्राकृतिक आपदाओं से निपटने में सहायक होंगें ।

माननीय उपाध्यक्ष जी, मैं कपिल सिब्बल साहब का आभारी हूं कि उन्होंने सूनामी के संबंध में, भूकम्प के संबंध में, अपने भाषण में पूरा द्ृष्य प्रस्तुत किया जो काफी अच्छा था जिसके कारण सांसदों का इस बारे में जो कुछ भ्रम था या जानकारी नहीं थी, उस संबंध में अच्छी जानकारी प्राप्त हुई। चूंकि हमारे गृह मंत्री जी, स्वयं भी दो बार साइंस एंड टैक्नौलौजी मंत्रालय में काम कर चुके हैं, दो बार मंत्री रह चुके हैं और अब कबिल सिब्बल साहब साइंस एंड टैक्नौलौजी के मंत्री हैं। इसलिए वे अच्छा काम करेंगे, ऐसी मैं उम्मीद करता हूं। मुझे भी लगभग चार, सवा चार साल इस मंत्रालय में मंत्री के रूप में काम करने का अवसर प्राप्त हुआ था। जो अनुभव मैंने प्राप्त किए, मैं उन्हें यहां दोहराना नहीं चाहता, लेकिन मैं एक चीज को हाउस के साथ जरूर शेयर करना चाहता हूं और बताना चाहता हूं कि इंस्टीटयूट ऑफ ओशन टैक्नौलौजी, चेन्नै में, मुझे देखने का अवसर मिला कि वहं जो डाटा-वॉइस के इक्विपमेंट और इंस्ट्रूमेंट्स हैं, वे सारे इंडीजीनस हैं। स्वदेश में निर्मित हैं। उन्हें कहीं बाहर से आयात नहीं किया जा रहा है। इसलिए मैं समझता हूं कि अपने देश के उन वैज्ञानिकों को जो डिपार्टमेंट आफ ओशन डैवलपमेंट में काम कर रहे हैं, इस सदन के माध्यम से, उन्हें स्वदेश में निर्मित इक्विपमेंट्स के लिए बधाई दी जानी चाहिए।

महोदय, सूनामी के संबंध में जो फैसला आया और कहा गया कि यह घटना १०० साल के बाद हुई है, इसलिए इसके बारे में हमें जल्दी से जल्दी व्यवस्था करनी चाहिए। इस संबंध में मैं केवल इतना ही कहना चाहूंगा कि स्टेंडिंग कमेटी ऑन साइंस एंड टैक्नौलौजी में हम लोग सदस्य हैं। हमने इसका एवीडेंस भी लिया था और पूरी स्टेंडिंग कमेटी इस संबंध में यूनेनिमस है कि इस मंत्रालय का इस विभाग से संबंधित जो भी बजट और डिमांड्स फॉर ग्रांट्स होंगी, उन्हें एक मत से पास करने पर हम सभी सदस्यों की सहमति होने जा रही है। इसी के साथ मैं इसमें एक चीज और जोड़ना चाहता हूं कि जब उड़ीसा में चक्रवात आया था तो उस समय अपने देश के डॉपलर राडार्स, पूर्व चेतावनी देने में काफी सहायक सिद्ध हुए। यह अच्छी बात है कि आज सूनामी चेतावनी प्रणाली के साथ, स्टॉम्र्स की चेतावनी प्रणाली भी जोड़े जाने की बात मंत्री जी ने कही है और बताया है कि उस दिशा में हम शीघ्र आगे बढ़ेंगे।

महोदय, अर्थक्वेक के संबंध में मैं बतलाना चाहता हूं कि हिमालय जोन में, हिमालय क्षेत्र में, जहां ५ सेंटीमीटर धरती का, यूरो-एशियन प्लेट के तिब्बतन प्लेट के साथ टकराव के कारण खिसकाव हो रहा है, वहां उसका परिणाम यह है कि केवल यह खिसकाव ही नहीं बल्कि उसके कारण २ सेंटीमीटर प्रति वर्ष की रफ्तार से हिमालय की ऊंचाई बढ़ रही है। इसका परिणाम यह हो रहा है कि न केवल ऊंचाई बढ़ रही है, बल्कि प्लेटों के टकराव से, पूरे हिमालय जोन में जो स्टेबलिटी आनी चाहिए थी, पर्वत को सैचुरेट होना चाहिए था, वह नहीं हो रहा है। साउथ के जो पर्वत हैं, वे मजबूत स्थिति में हैं, लेकिन हिमालय क्षेत्र के पर्वत इस घर्षण के कारण मजबूत स्थिति में नहीं आ पाते हैं और इसका परिणाम यह होता है कि जब क्लाउट बस्र्ट और हैवी रेन्स का अवसर आता है, तो उस समय सारे के सारे क्षेत्र में लैंड स्लाइड्स होने के कारण, बरसात के समय रास्ते बन्द हो जाते हैं और भारी तबाही होती है। इस वर्ष भी गोविन्द घाट पर, हेमकुंड साहब के आसपास और हमारे अपने क्षेत्र चम्पावत, पिथौरागढ़, अल्मोड़ा, बागेश्वर और उधर चमोली तक में बड़े पैमाने पर जो लैंड स्लाइड हुए, वे इसी कारण हुए। इसका मुख्य कारण भयंकार तरीके से प्रति वर्ष हिमालय की ऊंचाई का बढ़ना और पहाड़ों का सैचुरेट नहीं होना है।

महोदय, उन्होंने ८ रिक्टर स्केल की बात कही। मुझे केवल इतना ही स्मरण आता है कि साढ़े छ: रिक्टर स्केल पर जब माप आई, तो उत्तर काशी में इतना विनाशकारी भूकम्प आया जिसके बहुत अधिक विनाशकारी परिणाम निकले। इसी तरह चमोली में वर्ष १९९७ में भूकम्प आया, उसका भी लगभग साढ़े छ: रिक्टर स्केल पर माप किया गया था। चूंकि मैंने शुरू में ही मंत्री जी का धन्यवाद किया कि उन्होंने काफी अच्छी जानकारी दी। इसलिए मैं आशा करूंगा कि इस मंत्रालय पर डिसकशन के समय जो भी डिबेट होगी, उसमें हमें पार्टीसिपेट करने का अवसर मिलेगा और उस समय इस बारे में कुछ और नई जानकारियां भी मिल सकेंगी।

महोदय, चूंकि श्री शिवराज वि. पाटिल स्वयं गृह मंत्री हैं, इसलिए इसमें साइंस और टैक्नौलौजी के के क्या-क्या इनपुट्स शामिल हो सकते हैं, कौन-कौन से विभाग शामिल हो सकते हैं, ओशन डैवलपमेंट डिपार्टमेंट, डी.टी.एस. आदि हैं उनका किस प्रकार सहयोग लिया जाए, वे स्वयं इसे देखेंगे, ऐसी मुझे उम्मीद है।

महोदय, अपने देश में १०वीं पंचवर्षीय योजना में ५० करोड़ रुपए अर्थक्वेक को रोकने पर व्यय करने के लिए रखे गए हैं। मैं अवगत कराना चाहूंगा कि जब एन.डी.ए. सरकार से पहले इस क्षेत्र में लगभग ०.७ प्रतिशत खर्च हो रहा था, लेकिन हमने नौवीं पंचवर्षीय योजना में १२ हजार करोड़ रुपए रिसर्च एंड डैवलपमेंट पर खर्च करने का प्रावधान किया। १०वीं पंचवर्षीय योजना, २००७ तक चलने वाली है उसमें रिसर्च एंड डैवलपमेंट पर खर्च करने हेतु २५ हजार करोड़ रुपए की व्यवस्था की गई है। पिछले वित्तीय वर्ष में १.४ प्रतिशत आर. एंड डी. पर व्यय हुआ था, वह अब और बढ़ा है और मैं समझता हूं कि इसे और आगे बढ़ाने की आवश्यकता है।

उसे और अधिक बढ़ाए जाने की आवश्यकता है और जो कमिटमेंट है कि हम इसे दो प्रतिशत तक ले जाएंगे, इसे सरकार और आगे बढ़ाए। उसमें निश्चित रूप से पूरे सदन का सहयोग मंत्री जी और सरकार को रहेगा।

महोदय, मैं सुनामी पर ज्यादा विस्तार में नहीं जाना चाहता, क्योंकि समय का अभाव है। इसलिए मैं सुनामी और अन्य साइंस टैक्नोलॉजी के विषय को छोड़ कर अपने क्षेत्र के विषय में कुछ बातें कहना चाहूंगा। सरकार ने बाढ़ और सूखे के विषय को गंभीरता से लिया था। मेरा मानना है कि बीच में अवश्य कंट्रोवर्सी सामने आई थी कि पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री जी ने उदघोषणा कर दी, लेकिन समझौते पर हस्ताक्षर नहीं हुए। ईश्वर को धन्यवाद है कि वह स्पष्टीकरण आ गया कि कैसे-कैसे आचार-संहिता लग जाने से मध्य प्रदेश और राजस्थान में समझौते पर हस्ताक्षर नहीं हुए। उस दिशा में जो लिंकेज ऑफ रीवर का प्रोग्राम है, वह भी देश को सूखे और बाढ़ से बचाने के लिए, और साथ में अपनी आर्थिक प्रगति के लिए पर्यटन, ऊर्जा और रीवर ट्रांसपोर्ट है, इन सब के लिए आवश्यक है। उस दिशा में केन्द्र सरकार वभिन्न राज्यों को, जिनके-जिनके लिकेंज ऑफ रीवर का प्रोग्राम है, उन्हें विश्वास में ले और आगे बढ़े।

महोदय, मैं वाडिया इंस्टीटयूट ऑफ हिमालयन जियोलोजी की बात कर रहा था। इसमें बादल फटने का पूर्व अनुमान नहीं होता. इससे नुकसान होता है और ओलावृष्टि से लगातार नुकसान हो रहा है। हमारे उत्तरांचल और हिमाचल में ओले से केवल फसल को ही नुकसान नहीं हुआ, बल्कि फलों में जो फूल उग रहे हैं, उनका भी काफी नुकसान हुआ है। पिछले वर्ष नवम्बर, २००४ से लगातार बर्फबारी हो रही है। कश्मीर में बहुत ज्यादा बर्फबारी होने के कारण डेढ़ सौ लोगों की मृत्यु हुई। हमारे उत्तरांचल और हिमाचल के क्षेत्र, मुन्स्यारी, धारचूला, डीडीहाट आदि अनेक ऐसे विकासखंड थे, जहां एक हफ्ते तक रास्ते ठीक नहीं थे। वहां पशुधन और लोगों की भी बहुत हानि हुई है। यह जो भारी हिमपात हुआ है, उसकी तरफ भी सरकार का ध्यान जाना चाहिए।

महोदय, मैं एक बहुत बड़े खतरे की तरफ मंत्री जी का ध्यान दिलाना चाहूंगा, क्योंकि यह जो भारी हिमपात हुआ है, इससे बहुत नुकसान हुआ है। ५० वर्षों के बाद इतना हैवी स्नोफॉल हुआ है और जो बर्फ है, वह पुरानी बर्फ नहीं है, इसी वर्ष की है, अभी मार्च तक भी बर्फबारी हो रही है। जानकारों का कहना है कि पहले ज्यादा बर्फ होती थी, जून और जुलाई में वर्षा शुरू होगी तो उस वर्षा में जो स्नो फैड रीवर्स हैं, उन नदियों में पानी का जलस्तर इतना अधिक होगा कि आने वाले समय में बाढ़ का बहुत ज्यादा खतरा देश के सामने हो सकता है, यह संभावना है। इस संबंध में मेरा विशेष अनुरोध होगा कि विशेषज्ञों का जांच दल बना कर पता लगाएं कि क्या वास्तव में उसका मेग्नीच्यूट है, उसका कितना भंडार है और उसकी क्या संभावनाएं हैं, इसे देखा जना चाहिए। इसके लिए मुझे थोड़ी सी शिकायत करनी है, मैं शिकायत करना नहीं चाहता था, लेकिन मजबूरी है। मेरी शिकायत यह है कि जितना बजट एलोकेशन होता है, उसमें ८० प्रतिशत केन्द्र सरकार का रहता है - चाहे नेशनल केलेमिटी रिलीफ फंड से हो, फाइनेंस कमीशन के माध्यम से हो या प्राइम मनिस्टर फंड से हो, लेकिन हो क्या रहा है? मैं बाकी स्टेट्स के बारे में नहीं कहूंगा, लेकिन अपनी स्टेट के बारे में जिम्मेदारी के साथ यह अनुरोध करना चाहता हूं कि जो दैवी आपदा के लिए पैसा जा रहा है, उसे जिलों में आबंटित किया जा रहा है। उस दैवी आपदा का जो पैसा है, हमारे उत्तरांचल में मनिस्ट्री बनी हुई है, दैवी आपदा प्रबंधन मंत्रालय है, लेकिन मंत्रालय से न होकर, जिलों के प्रभारी मंत्री और विधायक उन कामों की अनुशंसा कर रहे हैं। वहां नये काम किए जा रहे हैं, अगर कोई पूल टूटा है तो उसके लिए पैसा नहीं है, वहां ठेकेदारी का हिसाब चल रहा है। मैं जिम्मेदारी के साथ कह रहा हूं कि इसकी तत्काल जांच होनी चाहिए। अगर कहीं से भी ऐसी शिकायत आती है तो उसकी जांच होनी चाहिए। राजीव गांधी ने कहा था कि १५ पैसे नहीं पहुंचते, मैं तो कह रहा हूं कि रिलीफ का एक भी पैसा नहीं पहुंचता, वह तो उस जमाने की बात थी। इसलिए इसे गंभीरता से देखे जाने की आवश्यकता है। जहां केलेमिटी हुई है, वहां उन्हें रिलीफ दिया जाए। इन्हीं शब्दों के साथ मैं अपनी वाणी को विराम देता हूं। समय का अभाव है, फिर भी आपने मुझे समय दिया, इसके लिए आपको बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद।

SHRI P.S. GADHAVI (KUTCH): Sir, I would like to lay my speech on the Table of the House.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Yes please.

     

SHRI A. KRISHNASWAMY (SRIPERUMBUDUR): Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, whenever we have a natural calamity, we used to discuss about floods, cyclone and drought in this august House.

It is unfortunate that we are discussing about tsunami, which has affected most of the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Each and every citizen of India, cutting across caste and creed, has expressed their grief towards the people who have lost their lives and property due to tsunami in all parts of India and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

I would like to thank the people who have contributed funds for the people who have lost their lives and property. I would also like to thank those who have counselled us, particularly our hon. Prime Minister, our UPA Chairman Shrimati Sonia Gandhi, our hon. Home Minister Shri Shivraj V. Patil and other Ministers, by visiting the tsunami-affected places in Tamil Nadu.

My colleague, Shri Vijayan has spoken in detail. He has given the facts and figures about the tsunami corruption. I would like to speak very briefly regarding my personal experience which had happened in my constituency. My constituency is Sriperumbudur. We have a very small part of coastal area, pulicat lake. In that lake, 20 persons died due to tsunami attack. The tidal wave comes at the height of 10 metres. As we have a shallow water river, the speed of the waves decreased and the waves went to the river bed, and with the result there was a less loss of life.

The State Government of Tamil Nadu has not taken any serious relief measures for the people who have been affected by tsunami. I had seen personally that the police people, firemen and revenue people had not taken immediate relief measures. Even the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has not instructed them to take speedy action. But our party leader and former Mayor, Thiru M.K. Stalin visited all the places immediately and undertook relief measures.

 

18.23 hrs. (Shri Devendra Prasad Yadav in the Chair) Mr. Chairman, Sir, not only that, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu had accused the Central Government on the floor of the Assembly and she said that the armed forces, the military and para-military forces have not taken any serious steps for the people who have suffered from tsunami. This is false, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir. We had directly seen the working of the defence people, military and para-military people. They had done major tsunami relief work. Even our President and our Prime Minister thanked the para-military forces, CRPF and praised them, and mentioned as to how they had acted in the tsunami-affected areas. But the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu had accused the para-military forces on the floor of the State Assembly and said that they had not worked very seriously in the tsunami relief work. When our DMK and UPA Members opposed her at that time, they were shifted from the Assembly, they were thrown out of the Assembly and even they were arrested for that. We had witnessed this scene in the State Assembly. Not only that, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has accused the hon. Finance Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram and said that he is a pauper. She also said that he has not allotted any money for Tamil Nadu. We know that the Finance Minister has allotted thousands of crores of rupees to the State of Tamil Nadu. We want to know how far the Tamil Nadu Government has handled that amount and also as to how they distributed it.

Sir, at the time of tsunami attack, no one knows how to take care of the deceased people and the people who are suffering. My humble suggestion is that those who are serving in the coastal areas – revenue people, police people, firemen, doctors, nurses and everybody – should be trained because tsunami is unpredicted.

This is a new thing for India. So, we have to give them training so that in future they can easily handle the tsunami attack.

In the tsunami-affected areas, the fund meant for relief measures has not been distributed properly. The fishermen are getting only 50 per cent of the amount and the remaining 50 per cent of the amount has been taken by the ruling Government as bribe. Those fishermen who live in the shallow and backward riverbeds, particularly in my constituency from Pasiyavaram to Arambakkam, do not get the relief fund because they have been denied that they are fishermen. Those who live in the shallow riverbeds are not treated as fishermen. Also, those Adidravida people and the Scheduled Caste people who are living there and are doing the profession of fishing, have not been treated as fishermen. So they are also denied of the relief fund. They should also be taken into consideration and they should also be paid the tsunami relief fund. Not only the fishermen but also those who depend on fishing should also be treated as fishermen and they should also be given the relief fund.

I want to say in this august House that prevention is better than cure. Last year I had submitted my memorandum to the Minister of Science and Technology. I had asked him to take steps to grow mangrove trees in the coastal areas, which will be fruitful to us, which will protect us from tsunami like tidal waves. Now that we have experienced tsunami, the Government has to plant mangrove trees in the entire coastal areas. It will be helpful to the fishermen and the people who are living in the coastal areas.

The Natural Disaster Management Authority is one of the very good visions. I welcome this. This should be monitored properly. This should be implemented very seriously. It can prevent tsunamis. The warning system is also a welcome one.

The Rajiv Gandhi rehabilitation package for the tsunami-affected areas is a very good scheme. You have allocated more than Rs.3,644 crore. Rs.2,347 crore was allotted to Tamil Nadu.

MR. CHAIRMAN : Please conclude.

SHRI A. KRISHNASWAMY : I want to say here that more than Rs.5,000 crore is needed to meet the rehabilitation and relief measures in Tamil Nadu. Also, the Government has announced 50 per cent subsidies for the replacement of catamarans, machine boats, motor boats, fishing nets and for repairing of the boats. That should be given immediately.

Also, whatever the amount which you give to the State of Tamil Nadu should be seriously monitored by the Central Government. Whenever you give the relief measure funds to those who lost their lives, at that time you have to invite the MPs. In the presence of the MPs, you have to hand over the amount to the relatives of the deceased persons, those who lost their lives. Why I am saying this is because the Government of Tamil Nadu issued Rs.1 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund without inviting us. They personally issued the amount in the presence of the MLAs. So, I plead with this Government that in the presence of the MPs you have to give whichever amount from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.

                         

SHRI P.S. GADHAVI (KUTCH): Sir, I may be allowed to lay on the Table of the House, a few suggestions and my views in short on the discussion under Rule 193 on National Calamities.

Sir, in our country, we have faced a number of calamities during the period of last fifty eight years like droughts, famines, floods, cyclones, earthquakes, Tsunami etc. We have lost precious lives of lakhs of people and movable and immovable properties worth billions of rupees have also been lost.

My constituency Kutch (Gujarat) has also witnessed many disastrous calamities during the last seven or eight years. In 1998, a cyclone hit coastal areas of my constituency and we lost more than three thousand precious human lives of poor labourers working in salt-manufacturing units. We also lost more than three lakh fruit bearing trees of farmers.

Again in 1999, western part of my constituency suffered heavy losses due to cyclone. We lost precious cattle wealth. More than fifty thousand cattle herds died in this calamity.

In January, 2001, world’s worst earthquake caused loss of more than eighteen thousand precious lives and incalculable loss to moveable and immovable properties only in my constituency.

Sir, I would like to submit that if proper system of prior timely warning of natural calamity is given to people then loss of human lives could definitely be saved.

Similarly, after natural calamity if rescue relief and rehabilitation operations are carried out by properly trained disaster management staff, then further loss and damages could be saved to a great extent.

After calamity, a master plan should be chalked out immediately for rescue, relief and rehabilitation operation work so that effective measures can be taken.

*Speech was laid on the Table.

I can say that, after the earthquake in 2001, many teams of experts in disaster management from foreign countries visited my constituency. With all their equipment they did a very commendable rescue and operation work. They saved lives of hundreds of victims of disastrous earthquake.

Sir, I would like to submit a few suggestions. There should be regular courses for disaster management in all our universities.

Proper prior warning system of natural calamities should be improved.

At the Centre, as well as, in all the states, there should be regular duly qualified and trained staff to take care of all the issues concerned to natural calamities.

Sir, we are facing droughts and famines at some places and havoc of flood at other places in our country. A solution to this can be inter-river linkage programme. And it should be given top most priority.

Banks and other financial institutions should provide easy loans with much lower rate of interest to rehabilitate the people who are affected by natural calamity. For repayment of such loan, instalments should be spread over the period of more than 20 years.

Calamity affected people and their dependants should be given required help from Government for the purpose of their resettlement.

Thank you for giving me this opportunity, Sir.

SHRIMATI K. RANI (RASIPURAM): Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, huge seismic sea waves were triggered by a massive earthquake of Sumatra under the sea with 8.9 magnitude. These hit the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Pondicherry and Andaman and Nicobar Islands on 26th December, 2004 causing a heavy loss of human lives, animal lives and of property worth crores of rupees. The Tsunami waves caused maximum loss of lives and property in Chennai, Nagappattinam and Kanniyakumari areas of Tamil Nadu. The coast guard is undertaking a search for fishermen and has reported a damage to twenty seven thousand fishing boats along the Tamil Nadu coast.

The central team, which visited these areas to assess the damage caused by Tsunami has declared a large number of people as dead or missing. The affected families of missing persons are facing lot of difficulties in showing their relatives as missing for getting compensation. And, it is feared that it will take more than five to seven years under the existing rules to get their compensations settled. If the affected families do not get compensation in time, I am afraid, their plight will become double in size.

Our charismatic leader Shrimati Sonia Gandhi visited and met the injured in the Government hospitals and displaced fishermen at the two relief centres and told "This is where we have to absolutely concentrate and ensure that they are rehabilitated as soon as possible and this is what the Government will definitely do."

Our Government had allotted Rs.8,000 crore for the Tsunami affected people. The Reserve Bank had asked the banks and other financial institutions to provide loans on easy terms to the survivors. The loans are in addition to the assistance that is provided by the States from Rs.500 crores Central Package.

   

*Speech was laid on the Table.

The insurance companies had been directed to accelerate the claims for damage, particularly, for boats and other equipment of fishermen. Even though, it is understood that they are not getting the compensation and they are made to run from pillar to post to get their loans allotted, as their family members are missing.

Therefore, I would like to request the Government that the families, whose members are missing, may be paid compensation without any further loss of time. Their cases may be decided as soon as possible.

SHRI E. PONNUSWAMI (CHIDAMBARAM): Hon. Chairman Sir, I thank the Chair for giving me an opportunity to speak in my mother tongue Tamil. Sir, we are sharing our views on the natural calamities and disasters that have affected our country. Natural disasters could be in any form like cyclones and storms, drought, floods and even the recent unexpected tsunami tragedy. When the Indian subcontinent remained unprepared, rather unexpectedly on 26.12.04 the great havoc called tsunami hit our southern coasts and caused huge devastation and destruction within 5 to 10 minutes. It was a great shock and havoc that will be indelible in our living memories. The shores of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar and Tamil Nadu are the tsunami hit areas in our country. Chennai, Chingleput, Kanyakumari, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and also Karaikal are the heavily hit districts as far as Tamil Nadu is concerned. Sir, Nagapattinam district suffered the most due to the tsunami and Chidambaram taluk in Cuddalore district that comes under my constituency is the next heavily affected area in Tamil Nadu. It was a great puzzle in the beginning and a lasting horror in the end to the public who witnessed personally this natural disaster. Thousands of people were killed instantaneously. Lakhs of people were put to great hardship and insurmountable suffering due to the fury of nature. In my constituency in Cuddalore district the death toll rose to 614. The persons still missing are 48. The number of boats missing are 516. About 1600 hectares of cultivable land have become salinated due to inundated sea waves that hit the coast as part of the furious tsunami. 1068 cattle heads have perished in this tragedy. 51 villages have been either washed out or devastated. More than 20,800 families have become victims losing lives and properties that belonged to these families. At least for 2 days that followed the tsunami, the Government of Tamil Nadu did not rush any help to 12,800 villages that bore the brunt of death and destruction of this magnitude.

*Translation of the Speech originally delivered in Tamil.

Even when the Government agencies failed, the local public, people from neighbouring districts and States, NGOs from across the country rushed humanitarian aid in time. The Government of Tamil Nadu woke up from its deep slumber only after two days. But the Union Government was way ahead. Right from the hon. Prime Minister, our UPA Chairperson hon. Mrs Sonia Gandhi and our hon. Home Minister all of them rushed to the affected areas in Tamil Nadu along with the Union Ministers from Tamil Nadu to express their sympathy to the people affected by the tsunami. In our recent history, we have not seen a calamity of this kind. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu was not forth coming during the first two days that followed this calamitous deluge. So far Rs 1760 crore have been allocated by the Union Government to Tamil Nadu. About Rs 217 crore have been released to Tamil Nadu already. It is only from these funds from the Centre that Rs 1 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased have been distributed. We must ensure that boats, nets and houses are provided with adequate funds to give them all a long term relief. But so far only Rs 75000 per catamaran, Rs 32000 per net, just Rs 5 lakh instead of Rs 15 lakh per mechanised boat have been distributed. When we asked about this inadequate assistance the stock reply from the State Administration was that the Central funds have not reached them as yet. Recently in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly this allegation was made against the Centre by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The Government of Tamil Nadu is enacting a play by way of making politics out of relief and assistance that has got to reach the victims at this hour of need. My esteemed colleagues from Tamil Nadu Shri A.K.S. Vijayan, Shri Krishnasami and Shri R. Prabhu have all dwelt at length on these commissions and omissions by the Government of Tamil Nadu. Not only our hon. Prime Minister but also His Excellency the President of India have stated that enough safeguard must be in place and adequate social security must be provided to overcome a havoc of this extent. Forewarning systems, precautionary measures must be there to face such challenges of this nature in the future. Hon. Minister for Science & Technology had explained in detail the system that could be in place soon to give us warning in time about tsunamis and earthquakes. But what is needed more at this hour of need is a non partisan approach by all concerned. There must not be any politicalisation of issues at this tragic hour. It must be there either from the Centre or from the State. Timely help must be forthcoming in an appropriate manner at a time when it is sought more eagerly. As far as fishermen are concerned the need for boats, nets and shelter in the coastal areas are immediate and essential. Not only fishermen, there are labourers and unorganised sector workers in these areas who are from the downtrodden classes who belong to the poor masses who live below the poverty line and they have all lost their property and livelihood in this disaster. Their lives have been shattered and we must rush help to rebuild their lives. Immediately houses must be constructed for them. They must be helped to carry on with their traditional occupation after being provided with boats and nets. As far as the State Government in Tamil Nadu, nothing of this is forthcoming in an evolved manner with a well laid out plan. Simply they put the blame on the Centre saying that funds have not been received. Sir, several crores of rupees have been received by the Government there through the efforts of several philanthropic organisations, even media organisations and NGOs. Even small farmers have not got any help much needed at this hour.

Sir, few days back I saw in newspapers about the contributions made by the MPs towards tsunami relief. Only 161 out of 541 members from this august House have apportioned funds from the MPLADS funds. This was initiated by the hon. Speaker who even evolved a way out to divert funds for tsunami relief as a special case. I appeal to my esteemed colleagues that they must come forward to donate liberally from MPLADS funds because the extent of damage caused by tsunami is much more than what has been enumerated. Sir, as far as I am concerned from the MPLADS fund account I oversee, I have donated already Rs 50 lakh to the fund set up by hon. Speaker. I intend to spend the remaining Rs 1.50 on tsunami relief work this year. We need to react to this natural disaster taking it as a national disaster as people from several parts of the country have lost their lives and property and they need to compensated and rehabilitated. I appeal to Government of Tamil Nadu through this august House that politicking must stop and earnest action must start at least from now on. So I urge upon the Union Government through our hon. Home Minister to provide shelter and professional equipment and implements like boats and get to start rebuilding their lives at the earliest.

With this I conclude my speech on our response to natural calamities.

                                   

SHRIMATI TEJASWINI SEERAMESH (KANAKAPURA): Respected Chairman, in this age of great civilization, modernisation, globalisation with wonderful achievements and adventures, disasters like tsunami proved once again Nature is very very superior power in the universe opposite mankind.

Whenever the mankind abused the principles and laws of Nature for its selfish, principles and laws of nature for its selfish life style, nature widely retaliated throughout the history, by floods, avalanches, volcanoes, draughts, cyclone storms and diseases like AIDS.

In spite of our scientific advancement and weather forecast, we were unable to trace the warning of Tsunami. This once again proves that mankind cannot conquer or dictate the Nature.

My State, Karnataka, along with States like Andhra Pradesh drastically suffered by 4½ years of worst draught, which pushed the poor farmers into the suicide death traps, caused greater migration of this locals and also threat to the underground water level and drinking water.

It is alarming situation to realise our national responsibilities, to protect our nature, like air, forest, oceans and, of course, the harmony between the religions, races, borders which were causing manmade disasters like 9/11 attack on USA.

According to the Tsunami lab at Novosibirsk in Siberia. In the pacific ocean region, during the last century, there were 796 tsunami occurred, out of these only 117 caused human causalities and property damage.

Before 26th December tsunami earlier there were 5 such tragedies occurred during 1797, 1843, 1861 and 1883. In 1797, 300 fatalities. In 1883, 36000, but in 1861 too thousands of fatalities recorded. Since 1883 from this Sumatra – Andaman region till 26th December, 2004, there have been no tsunami originated. Sumatra – Andaman region had seen the earthquake with a magnitude of 8.4 in   *Speech was laid on the Table.

1797, 8.7 in 1843, 8.5 in 1861, 7.9 in 2000. But the later earthquake which caused havoc across the South East and South Asia has been estimated 9 on the Richter scale.

India has a long built expertise in National Disaster Management. But Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984 brought out serious inadequacies in our expertise and capability to deal with disasters of the kind we had not encountered in the past.

It was Shri Rajiv Gandhi, the then PM, openly admitted the lapses instead of covering them up and initiated the measures to rectify them and acted upon to revamp. I feel it is not improper to mention in this House that after Congress Government lost power at the Centre in 1989, the succeeding Government has not given the same importance as Rajiv did.

As far as post tsunami relief is concerned, our Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singhji, a visibly humble and down to earth leader deserves an appreciation who won the hearts and minds of tsunami victims.

It will be a sin on our part if we do not recognise the priceless service rendered by our leader and UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi who personally visited to console the tsunami victims across the country, and monitored the relief measures.

Sir, nothing can compensate the loss of dear ones from the life forever, Mrs. Sonia Gandhiji, who laid down her life for his nation. As a proud widow of Rajivji, who became martyr to protect the national integration. As a painful mother of two who lost their dearest father Rajivji, as a grandmother of little two, today she is a complete woman. We are proud experience her dedication. In this hour, post tsunami crisis, let us face together any disaster.

According to the Tsunami Laboratory at Novosibirsk in Siberia, there were 796 tsunamis in the Pacific Ocean region during the last century. Of these, only 117 cause human casualties and property damage. In the case of a majority of them, the human casualties and the property damage were near the source of the tsunami only. Only nine of them caused widespread destruction through the pacific. The largest number of tsunamis in a single year was 19 in 1938, but they were all minor and caused no damage. During the last century, there was not a single year when there was no tsunami in the Pacific region.

According to the same source, 17 per cent of the total tsunamis of the last century were generated in or near Japan. This was followed by : South America, 15 per cent; New Guinea Solomon Islands, 13 per cent; Indonesia, 11 per cent; Kuril Islands and Kamchatka, 10 per cent; Mexico and Central America, 10 per cent; the Philippines, 9 per cent; New Zealand and Tonga, 7 per cent; Alaska and West Coast of Canada and the United States, 7 per cent; and Hawai, 3 per cent. Thus, Indonesia figured fourth in the list of countries/areas most prone to tsunami in this region.

Tsunami in the Pacific region are categorised as purely local, regional and Pacific wide. Local tsunamis are usually caused by submarine landslides or volcanic explosions. A local tsunami, which occurred off Alaska on July 9, 1958, generated waves, which were reportedly much higher and more forceful than the waves witnessed during the recent tsunami havoc in the Sough East Asian and South Asian regions, but the damage caused was limited to the area where it occurred. There was no spread effect. The last tsunami, which caused widespread damage across the Pacific region, occurred on May 22, 1960. Among the affected countries were Chile, the USA (Hawaii), Japan and the Philippines. A tsunami of lesser spread, but considerable damage was the 1964 great Alaska earthquake tsunami, which reportedly produced a wave of 67 metres at Shoup Bay, Valdez Inlet. There were 106 deaths in Alaska, 13 in California and four in Oregon. There was property damage, but not less of human lives in the British Columbia area of Canada.

Before the December 26, 2004 tragedy, there have been five destructive tsunamis, which had originated in the Sumartran region – on February 10, 1797, November 24, 1833, January 5, 1843, February 16, 1861 and 1883 (months and date not available). There were about 300 fatalities in 1797 and 36,000 fatalities in 1883. The details of the fatalities in the remaining incidents are not recorded, but it was reported that there were thousands of fatalities in 1861 too. Since 1883, there have been no tsunami originating from the Sumatran region causing thousands of fatalities till December 26, 2004.

The Sumatran-Andaman region had seen the earthquake with a magnitude of 8.4 on the Richter scale in 1797, a magnitude of 8.7 in 1843, a magnitude of 8.5 in 1861 and a magnitude of 7.9 in 2000. The magnitude of the latest one, which caused havoc across South East and South Asia, has been estimated at 9. It has been reported that there was some delay in the estimation of the magnitude of the latest earthquakes by experts in many countries, including the U.S.A. Explaining this delay, the US Geological survey says : "While earthquake location can be determined fairly rapidly, earthquake size is somewhat more problematic. This is because location is mainly based upon measurements of the time that seismic waves arrive at a station. Magnitude, on the other hand, is based upon the amplitude of those waves. The amplitude is much more variable than the arrival times, thus causing greater uncertainty in the magnitude estimate. For larger earthquake, the problem is compounded by the fact that the larger the earthquake, the lower the characteristic frequency of the seismic waves. This means that surface wave arrivals, which contain lower frequency energy than the body waves, must be used to determine the magnitude. For a great earthquake, several hours of data must be recorded in order to accurately determine the magnitude. Thus, accurate estimates of the magnitude can follow an accurate estimate of the location by several hours. In the case of 9.0 Sumatra Andaman Islands earthquake, the standard methods were inadequate for measuring the very low frequency energy produced and had to be modified. This delayed the final determination of the magnitude until the next day.

Since the beginning of the 20th Century, whenever an earthquake of large magnitude (7.5 plus) had caused a tsunami wave, the direction of spread have been towards the Pacific. This is the first time that the direction was towards the Bay of Bengal/Indian Ocean Region.

In view of the frequent occurrence of tsunami waves in the Pacific region, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) was established in 1949 in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, to provide advance warnings of likely tsunamis to most countries in the pacific basin as well as to Hawaii and all other US interests in the Pacific outside of Alaska and the US West Coast areas are served by the West Coast / Alaska Tsunami Warning Centre (WC/ATWC) in Palmer, Alaska. The PTWC is also the warning centre for Hawaii’s local and regional tsunamis.

An international Tsunami Information Centre (ITIC) was established in 1965 by the IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission) of the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to create tsunami awareness and to improve tsunami preparedness through networking with scientific research and academic organizations, civil defence agencies, and the general public in the areas which are prone to tsunamis. It performs, inter alia, the following tasks : To monitor international tsunami warning activities in the Pacific; to assist member-states in establishing national warning systems, and disseminate information on current technologies for tsunami warning systems. It is located in Honolulu, Hawai.

An International Coordination Group for the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific (ICG) was set up in 1968 to ensure that tsunami watches, warning and advisory bulletins are disseminated throughout the Pacific to member states in accordance with the procedure outlined in a communication plan for the tsunami warning system. The ICG is a subsidiary body of the UNESCO and the Intergovernmental Oceangraphic Commission (IOC).

The Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific (TWSP) presently has the following 26 member-states : Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, France, Guatemala, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Thailand, the Russian Federation and the USA. It is reported that all these countries have also their national warning systems.

Despite this, not only Indonesia and Thailand, but also Western countries such as the US, France, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and Japan from where thousands of tourists spend their Christmas-New Year holidays in Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Maldives seem to have been taken by surprise by the tsunami waves, which caused the death of over 1,20,000 people of this region and 2,000 plus foreign, mainly Western tourists. The deaths of Western tourists have been reported mainly from Thailand and Sri Lanka.

The Western countries, particularly the USA, issue advisories to their nationals travelling abroad about the likelihood of any danger to their lives, whether from terrorism or natural disasters. How come no advisory seems to have been issued to their nationals holidaying in their thousands (estimate 40,000) in this region, particularly in Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, after the occurrence of the seaquake off Aceh in Indonesia?

How did the Pacific warning system in general and the national warning systems of Indonesia and Thailand in particular fail to forewarn their nationals and foreign tourists of the impending tsunami disaster? How did the Western countries and the sophisticated systems set up by them since 1949 apparently fail to provide advance warnings when the direction of spread was towards the Bay of Bengal/Indian Ocean region? No satisfactory explanation has so far been forthcoming.

An unnamed member of the Thai meteorological department has quoted as alleging that a tsunami alert was not issued for fear of hurting the country’s important tourism industry in case it turned out to be a false alarm. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has promised an investigation into the matter.

India has not been a member of any of the tsunami warning systems. Past proposals for India to set up is own national warning system and to join the international (mainly Pacific) network was given low priority apparently due to the high financial implications (Rs.1,000 million – Rs. 45 equal to one US dollar) and the fact that India had not been a victim of tsunami waves for a little over 100 years.

India’s vulnerability to tsunami caused destruction was estimated as very low, if not non-existent. As a result, not only was there no effort to set up an advance warning and international networking system, but tsunami-vulnerability was not one of the factors taken into account in the determination of the location of our nuclear and space launching establishments and in designining their safety features. Similarly, this vulnerability was not taken into consideration while determining the location of our military establishments in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and their safety features.

According to Indian officials, our nuclear establishments, including the power station at Kalpakam near Chennai, the new Russian-aided power station under construction at Koodankulam on the southern coast in Tamil Nadu and the space complex at Srihari Kota in Andhra Pradesh have escaped any damage. Five members of the staff at Kalpakam were tragically killed along with members of their families when the waves entered the residential township located near the sea.

Factoring in the tsunami-vulnerability aspect in all our future planning of sensitive establishments of national security value and upgrading the safety measures of the establishments set up in the past is a task needing urgent attention, whatever be the cost.

The Government of India has also announced its decision to set up an advance warning system and join the international warning network. This would definitely increase our capability to anticipate future disasters and minimise the loss of human lives and material damage provided we pay equal attention to the human factor. Gadgets, technologies and international networking definitely help us by providing better technological inputs, better quality of information, etc. but ultimately how effective we are in the prevention or mitigation of a disaster or a crisis would depend on the quality of the human mind that analyse, assesses and makes use of the data and how well-prepared it is and how fast it reacts. An alert, observant, analytical, proactive, far-seeing human mind is a thousand times more valuable than gadgets and technologies in the prevention and mitigation of disasters and crises.

This is as true of the crises created by threats to national security as it is of natural and men-made disasters. We saw it during the sequel to the Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984, before the Kargil conflict with Pakistan in 1999 and before 9/11 terrorist strikes in the USA. For weeks before the Kargil conflict in India and the 9/11 catastrophe in the USA, there were enough indicators of the impending conflict/disaster. The human mind, which was expected to analyse the available data correctly and in time and act to prevent it, failed to do so.

In retrospect, one could see that even in the case of the tsunami tragedy of epic proportions, which overtook us on December 26, 2004, there were enough tell-tale indicators such as the power magnitude of the seaquake not only off Sumarta, but also off Andaman and Nicobar, which is our own territory, the striking of the tsunami waves against Car Nicobar much before they struck Thailand and their striking Thailand before they struck Southern India and Sri Lanka. One would have expected that a professional and alert mind would have immediately taken notice, rang the alarm bell and activated the crisis management machinery at New Delhi. According to media reports, the crisis management machinery got going only around 2 PM, above five hours after the monster waves struck the coast of Tamil Nadu.

As the cliché goes, it is easy to be wise after the event. True. But it is important to be wise at least after the event, even if we were not before. Otherwise, we will re-live similar disasters time and again. To be able to be wise at least after the event, one needs a clinically objective critical analysis of our inadequacies. According to the media, sources in the Ministry of Science and Technology have claimed that an immediate alert of the Sumatra seaquake was not issued because it had occurred in foreign territory and not in or in the vicinity on India territory. According to these sources, the present procedures call for such an alert only if a powerful quake takes place in Indian territory or in its vicinity. It is surprising and shocking that these officials seem to have overlooked the fact that the Andaman and Nicobar is our territory and that the seaquake had struck in the vicinity of our territory and our nationals in Car Nicobar were the first to be struck by this tragedy.

India has a long built expertise in National Disaster Management. But Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984 brought out serious inadequacies in our expertise and capability to deal with disasters of the kind we had not encountered in the past. A comprehensive and constantly-updated disaster management system was found lacking.

It goes to the credit of Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister, that he openly admitted the lapses instead of covering them up and initiated the measures to rectify them. He attached a senior officer, with expertise in this matter, to the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India at New Delhi to revamp our natural disaster management system. After the tsunami struck the southern region of India and Andaman and Nicobar on December 26,2004, the local administrations down to the lowest level rose to the occasion in organising rescue and relief work. Considerable credit for the excellent reflexes exhibited by them should go to the ground work done by Rajiv Gandhi. But, unfortunately, as it often happens, after his exist from the Government in 1989 due to the defeat of his Congress Party in elections, this subject did not receive the same attention from the succeeding Governments as it did under Rajiv Gandhi. It is to be hoped that at least now greater priority would be given to the urgent task of revamping our disaster management system, whether natural or man-made.

The aftermath of the tsunami havoc must have brought home to the policy-makers that natural disasters can have enormous consequences not only for the lives and welfare of the human beings and the economy, but also for national security as seen in the Andaman and Nicobar. The joint service headquarters set-up in the islands forms an important component of our naval defence set-up and our capability to go to the assistance of the South East Asian countries in matters such as joint patrolling and surveillance of the Malacca Straits and the protection of the ships and oil tankers from pirates and terrorists. Repair of the damage suffered by our military capabilities in the islands is another aspect needing immediate attention, irrespective of the cost.

The delay in Indian joining the advance tsunami warning system and setting up its own national capability due to financial reasons underlines once again the difficulties faced by our national security and disaster managers due to short-sighted approach of our financial experts, who reject such proposals on the ground that those are based on the likelihood of vulnerabilities and not on the possibility or certainty of actual threats. They are often reluctant to approve proposals, which are sought to be justified on the ground that we have to forearm ourselves against a danger which could arise. Such a negative attitude could prove counter-productive. The fact that what could arise did not arise does not mean that those who drew attention to what could happen were fools or that the expenditure incurred on preventing it or mitigating its effect was a waste or the tax-payers’ money.

सभापति महोदय : मैं आप लोगों से एक आग्रह करना चाहता हूं कि अभी २५ माननीय सदस्य बोलने वाले हैं। इसके बाद माननीय मंत्री जी को भी रिप्लाई देना है। इस तरह ढाई घंटे लग जायेंगे। मैं निवेदन करना चाहता हूं कि समय सीमा को देखते हुए हर सदस्य पांच मिनट में अपनी बात खत्म करे।

श्री खारबेल स्वाईं : अभी एक घंटे पहले भी २५ मैम्बर बोलने वाले थे। इस बीच पांच-सात मैम्बर बोल चुके हैं। इसके बाद भी क्या अभी २५ मैम्बर और बोलने वाले हैं ?

सभापति महोदय : चीफ व्हिप से लिस्ट आती रहती है।

SHRI KINJARAPU YERRANNAIDU (SRIKAKULAM): Mr. Chairman, Sir, Tsunami has caused great loss to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Pondicherry. The Tsunami has affected a total of 2,220 kilometres of coastline, besides Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

In Andhra Pradesh, due to the Tsunami, we lost 105 human lives, 481 dwelling units, 89 cattle, 596 hectares of cropped area, and 12,189 boats. For the last six years, Andhra Pradesh is consecutively facing severe droughts. In Andhra Pradesh, out of 1,104 mandals, we had declared drought in 689 mandals in the year 1999-2000; 142 mandals in 2000-2001; 995 mandals in 2001-2002; 1,087 mandals in 2002-2003; 453 mandals in the last year, 2003-2004; and 802 mandals in the current year, 2004-2005.

The Government of Andhra Pradesh had request the Union Government to provide Rs. 1,200 crore and 25 lakh metric tonnes of rice. So far, the Government of India has released only Rs. 117.88 crore from the National Calamity Relief Fund and sanctioned only 2.2 lakh metric tonnes of rice to Andhra Pradesh.

In the previous NDA Government, when the Telugu Desam Government was in power, in the State we had sanctioned 55 lakh metric tonnes of rice. We had implemented Food for Work Programme throughout the State of Andhra Pradesh. However, this UPA Government has sanctioned Food for Work Programme for only eight districts. The hon. Prime Minister has launched this Programme. Till yesterday, about 82 lakh agricultural workers and about 18 lakh small and medium farmers have migrated from Andhra Pradesh to various parts of the country.

The Eleventh Finance Commission has fixed the Calamity Relief Fund for each State as to how much money we have to provide under the Calamity Relief Fund. Secondly, the Government of India, based on the team’s recommendations, decides the National Calamity Relief Fund. So, in the present scenario, even the affected States are not getting more money under the National Calamity Relief Fund. Now, my request, through you, to the hon. Minister of Home Affairs is that the Budget allocations under the Calamity Relief fund and also the National Calamity Relief Fund should be increased; otherwise no State will get more money.

The Twelfth Finance Commission will start working from 2005-06 to 2010. As per the recommendations of the Twelfth Finance Commission, the Government should increase the Budget under the National Calamity Relief Fund and also under the Calamity Relief Fund to the States.

As regards the tsunami warning centre, Hyderabad or Vishakhapatnam is the proper place to establish a tsunami-warning centre. We have a Meteorological Department. We have a cyclone warning centre and a seismic warning Centre. But there is no tsunami-warning centre. So, in the All-Party meeting also the Government of India has decided to create a Disaster Management Authority. They have already issued orders to create the Disaster Management Authority and also instructed the State Governments to convert their Relief and Rehabilitation Department to the Disaster Management Centre. They have also decided to enact a law in the current Budget Session. So, I am appreciating the Government of India in this regard.

Now, they have given Rs. 70 crore out of Rs. 3,666 crore as a grant to the State of Andhra Pradesh. They have also given a total sum of Rs. 70 crore to the State of Andhra Pradesh from various Heads, from the Ministry dealing with Fisheries and other Ministries, and from the National Calamity Relief Fund. But so far the activity has not started in Andhra Pradesh. We have given the money, but the fishermen are also approaching various political parties. They are homeless, but we have given the relief. We have also done the rehabilitation work and also the reconstruction work is going on in Andhra Pradesh. So, all the fishermen are homeless. That is why, I am requesting the Government of India to ask the State Government. We have given the money for this purpose. They have to start construction of the houses for the fishermen without any delay.

As far as drought is concerned, there is a severe drought in Andhra Pradesh throughout the State. We have a scarcity of drinking water and we have a scarcity of fodder. There is a lack of Food for Work Programme. People are migrating to various parts of the country. According to the media reports also, whatever rice is given by the Government of India to the State of Andhra Pradesh, it is exhausted. So, this is the situation prevailing in Andhra Pradesh. That is why, the Government of India should honour the request of the State Government. They have asked for Rs. 1,200 crore money and 20 lakh metric tonnes of rice. So, I am requesting, through you, to the hon. Minister of Home Affairs to sanction more money under the National Calamity Relief Fund as well as rice under the Food for Work Programme. This is my simple request.

Sir, with these few words, I conclude.

MR. CHAIRMAN : Shri Yerrannaidu, thank you very much. You have completed your speech within the stipulated time.

… (Interruptions)

श्री राजनरायन बुधौलिया (हमीरपुर, उ.प्र.) : महोदय, देश में बदलते मौसम के कारण कई राज्यों में प्रतिवर्ष ओलावृष्टि, अत्यधिक वर्षा एवं तूफान से देश् की गरीब जनता सबसे ज्यादा और सबसे पहले प्रभावित होती है। कृषि प्रधान देश होने के कारण किसान खेतों में और चरवाहे चारागाहों में, खुले मैदानों में रहते हैं और ओलावृष्टि होने से सबसे ज्यादा प्रभावित होते हैं। अचानक ओलावृष्टि होने से प्रतिवर्ष हजारों की संख्या में लोगों की मौतें होती हैं लेकिन सरकार की और से इस पर कोई ध्यान नहीं दिया जाता है। किसानों की खड़ी फसलें इस तरह की दैवी आपदा के कारण नष्ट हो जाती हैं।

सुनामी लहरों से देश और विदेश में काफी मात्रा में क्षति हुई है। इसके बारे में सदन में काफी विस्तार से चर्चा हुई है। मैं भी अपना दुख व्यक्त करते हुए अपने को माननीय सदस्यगणों के सुझावों से सम्बद्ध करता हूँ। लेकिन अभी हाल ही में बुन्देलखण्ड क्षेत्र के हमीरपुर, महोबा, चित्रकूट, जालौन, बांदा, झांसी, ललितपुर और छतरपुर आदि जिलों में ओलावृष्टि से जो क्षति हुई है, उसकी ओर आपका ध्यान आकृष्ट करना चाहता हूँ। किसानों की सम्पूर्ण खड़ी फसलें नष्ठ हो गयीं, अनेक किसानों की अकाल मौत हो गयी और पशुधन की भी भारी क्षति हुई है। यातायात, विद्युत, दूरसंचार भी भारी मात्रा में प्रभावित हुए हैं तथा गरीब-कमजोर वर्गों के लोगों के मकान पूर्णत: क्षतिग्रस्त हो गए हैं। सम्पूर्ण प्रभावित क्षेत्र में त्राहि-त्राहि मची हुई है। मान्यवर, २, ३, ४, ८, १०, ११ और १२ मार्च की तारीखों पर जो ओलावृष्टि हुई, मैं उसकी चर्चा कर रहा हूँ। इस तरह की दैवी आपदा से प्रतिवर्ष काफी नुकसान हो जाता है। अत: मेरी केंद्र सरकार से मांग है कि एक ऐसा राष्ट्रीय कोष बनाया जाए जिससे प्रभावित लोगों को तुरन्त सहायता दी जा सके। इसी के साथ मैं अपनी बात समाप्त करता हूँ।

   

मोहम्मद सलीम (कलकत्ता-उत्तर पूर्व) : महोदय, सबसे पहले मैं अपने साथी श्री रूपचन्द मुर्मु को धन्यवाद देता हूँ कि उन्होंने इस विषय पर चर्चा का आरम्भ की और मैं आसन को भी धन्यवाद देना चाहता हूँ क्योंकि हमें यह अंदेशा था कि यह महत्वपूर्ण विषय शोर-शराबे में कहीं खो न जाए और हमें अपने विचार रखने का मौका दिया।

हम विज्ञान, टैक्नोलॉजी, सभ्यता आदि के विकास के बारे में कितना भी गर्व क्यों न करें, लेकिन जब इस तरह की कोई प्राकृतिक आपदा आती है जिससे पूरी मानवता हिल जाती है तो हम लोग यह सोचते हैं कि अभी भी हम कितने असहाय हैं और यह सब जो आर्टफशियल चीजें हैं, जैसे धर्म, जाति, भाषा, उनके विषय में हमें एक सबक, एक शिक्षा मिलती है। जब ऐसी आपदा आती है तो उसके शिकार हम सभी होते हैं और फिर उससे जूझने का काम भी हम सब मिलकर, इकट्ठा होकर करते हैं। सुनामी की काफी चर्चा सदन में हुई है। मैं उस पर आने से पहले माननीय प्रधानमंत्री जी और गृहमंत्री जी को धन्यवाद देना चाहता हूँ जिनके साथ मुझे जम्मू-कश्मीर जाने का मौका मिला था। वहाँ हमने देखा कि वहाँ जिस तरह से त्रासदी आई थी, खासकर फरवरी के महीने में कि लोग कह रहे थे कि यह अन्प्रिसिडेन्टेड थी, पिछले ३०-३५ सालों में ऐसा कभी नहीं हुआ था। जब हम लोग ऊपर से जा रहे थे तो पीर पंजर के पास एक अजीब सा मामला था। पूरी जमीन तो बर्फ की चादर से ढकी हुई थी, लेकिन जो बिजली के खम्भे थे, वे क्रिसमस ट्री की तरह बर्फ से लदे हुए थे। वे उसका बोझ नहीं संभाल पा रहे थे और जब हम लोग रिमोट एरियाज में गए तो वहां पाया कि बिजली की सप्लाई ठप्प, टेलिकम्युनिकेशन ठप्प, पीने के पानी की परेशानी, बिजली न होने के कारण हास्पिटल में चकित्सा में परेशानी हो रही थी। एसेंसियल सप्लाइज रूकी हुई थीं क्योंकि आप जानते हैं कि जम्मू-कश्मीर हमारे हाईवेज और टनल्स बंद हो गईं थी। इसके कारण लोगों को दिक्कतों का सामना करना पड़ रहा था। वहाँ की आम्र्ड फोर्सेज, पैरा-मलिट्री फोर्सेज, स्टेट गवर्नमेंट, सेन्ट्रल गवर्नमेंट, पोलटिकल पार्टीज, नॉन-पोलटिकल ऑर्गनाइजेशन्स, सब लोग मिलकर, इकट्ठे होकर लोगों की परेशानी के जूझ रहे थे।

मैं एक बात और कहना चाहूंगा। जम्मू-कश्मीर का बहुत महत्व है। यह हम लोग सुनते रहते हैं कि पड़ोसी देश हमारी सप्लाई लाइन काटना चाहता है, कभी मलिटेंसी की बात होती है और कभी हाइवे पर गोलीबारी होती है। ऐसी स्थिति में जब सर्दियां आती हैं, तो उस प्रदेश की राजधानी जम्मू शिफ्ट हो जाती है। इसलिए हमें वहां स्थिति से निपटने के लिए तीन-चार महीने का राशन, एसेंशियल सप्लाइज़ का स्टाक रखना चाहिए। इस बार जो बर्फबारी हुई या दूसरी परेशानी हुई, आप सबने भी टी.वी. पर देखा होगा कि कैसे वहां पर्यटक फंसे पड़े हैं, रसोई गैस नहीं है। अगर कहीं है भी तो सप्लाई लाइन का इंतजाम नहीं है। राज्य सरकार के लिए भी यह परेशानी थी, क्योंकि पिछले ३० साल में इस तरह से ऐसी विपदा नहीं आई थी। फिर भी उसने स्थिति से निपटने की कोशिश की और दिल्ली से भी केन्द्रीय सहायता पहुंचाने की कोशिश की गई।

अभी हमारे हिमाचल प्रदेश के साथी ने बताया कि वहां अत्यधिक बर्फबारी हुई है। यह आसार है कि जब वह पिघलेगी, ग्लेशियर हटेंगे तो फ्लश फ्लड की आशंका है। हम लोग जो नीचे रहते हैं, गर्मियां आ रही हैं, वहां जो बर्फ पिघलेगी तो कितना पानी यहां आने की सम्भावना है, उससे क्या परेशानी नीचे के लोगों को आ सकती है, इसका भी असेसमेंट करना चाहिए।

सुनामी का जो हादसा हुआ, उससे हम सब भली भांति परचित हैं। ऐसे स्थिति से निपटने के लिए भारत सरकार ने जिस तेजी से रिस्पाँस किया, वह सराहनीय है और मैं उसकी सराहना करता हूं। उसने बाकी राज्यों से भी बात की। मैं पश्चिम बंगाल से आता हूं। मुझे मालूम है कि केन्द्र ने हमारी राज्य सरकार से बात की, क्योंकि अण्डमान-निकोबार हमारे पास है इसलिए हमने वहां के प्रशासन से बात की और जैसा भी हम लोगों से हुआ, वह किया। जनता, राज्य सरकार, केन्द्र सरकार, प्राइवेट कार्पोरेट बाडीज और पब्लिक सेक्टर्स सभी ने अपने-अपने तरीके जो काम किया, वह एक मिसाल है।

सभापति महोदय : कुछ सुझाव भी दें। आप एक तजुर्बेकार मेम्बर हैं।

मोहम्मद सलीम : इसी तरह से अमेरिका आदि जो देश हैं, जो ऐसी आपदाओं के वक्त लपक कर अपनी मदद करने आते हैं, उसकी भी हम सराहना करते हैं। लेकिन हम इस चीज की भी सराहना करते हैं कि भारत सरकार ने अपनी सॉवर्नेटी, इंटीग्रेटी और गौरव को यह कह कर बढ़ाया कि हमें जब मदद चाहिए होगी, हम आपको कहेंगे। हमने २१वीं, सदी में यह निशानदेही की है। हमने कहा कि फौरन जो रिलीफ और रिस्क्यू वर्क का मामला है, हम खुद कर सकते हैं। इसके अलावा हमने मालद्वीप, श्रीलंका, इंडोनेशिया को मदद पहुंचाने का कार्य किया, वह भी सराहनीय है। जो पुनर्वास का मामला है, आपने जो कोर ग्रुप्स बनाए हैं, मैं समझता हूं कि वह एडहाक अरेंजमेंट नहीं होना चाहिए। कुछ रिलीफ दे दिया, कहीं २०,००० रुपए और कहीं ५०,००० रुपए दे दिए, ऐसा नहीं होना चाहिए। सिर्फ हाउसिंग या ड्वैलिंग यूनिट्स ही नहीं, कोस्टल एरिया हो या अण्डमान-निकोबार हो, वहां के जो फिशरमैन हैं, उनके भी विकास का मामला है। राष्ट्रपति जी कहते हैं कि प्रोवाइडिंग अर्बन फैसेलिटी इन दि रूरल एरियाज़। तो यह एक मौका हमें मिला है हम ऐसे प्रोविजंस कर सकते हैं कि जहां पर उनका इंटीग्रेटिड डवलपमेंट का बंदोबस्त हो, हम एक मिसाल कायम करें। जिसे बाद में दूसरी राज्य सरकारों के लिए चाहे बाढ़ हो, भूकम्प हो या और परेशानी आए, वे भी रिलीफ और पुनर्वास को उसमें जोड़कर एक नई दिशा दे सकते हैं।

जहां तक डिसास्टर मैनेजमेंट अथोरिटी की बात है, उसकी हम सराहना करते हैं। इस सम्बन्ध में लेजिस्लेशन लाने की बात हमें सुनने को मिल रही है, वह जल्द से जल्द आना चाहिए। ऐसा देखने में आता है कि जब एकदम से कोई हंगाम की सूरत सामने आए या ऐसी परिस्थिति हो, तभी हम रिस्पाँस करते हैं। फिर धीरे-धीरे मामला ज्यों का त्यों हो जाता है। फरवरी में बर्फ बारी हुई, हम मार्च में चर्चा कर रहे हैं। यह जारी रहनी चाहिए।

मैं अक्सर जब भी ऐसी कोई आपदा आती है, चाहे मानवीय हो या प्राकृतिक हो, जैसे अमरनाथ में ग्लैशियर फटे थे, वहां जाने का प्रयास करता हूं। मैं अमरनाथ भी गया था। ऐसी जगह सबसे बड़ी समस्या कम्युनिकेशन की होती है। वहां कई लोग मारे गए थे। वह तो जो हुआ सो हुआ, लेकिन जो लोग वहां फंस जाते हैं, उनको परेशानी होती है, वहां कोई कम्युनिकेशन का नेटवर्क होना चाहिए। हमने देखा कि हमारे यहां के लोग क्रिसमिस के सीजन में तमिलनाडू और अण्डमान-निकोबार गए थे। वहां जब यह आपदा आई तो हमारे यहां लोगों को लगा कि वे तो गए, वे तो गुजर गए। इसलिए इमर्जेंसी की स्थिति में कैसे रिस्पाँस करेंगे, उसका बंदोबस्त होना चाहिए। इसी तरह से आपके सरकारी अफसर हैं। रेल चल रही है तो चल रही है। दुर्घटना हो गयी तो कोई जिम्मेदारी नहीं लेगा और उससे रूटीन वर्क ही टूट जाता है। कैसे क्या करना है, इसको देखने के लिए कुछ लोग या ऑरगेनाइजेशन्स हैं, लेकिन उनको भी इस तरह के कामों की ट्रेनिंग होनी चाहिए। अभी साइंस एंड टैक्नोलॉजी की बात हुई है, तो उस पर भी हमारा ध्यान जाना चाहिए। हमारे यहां बाढ़, सूखाड़, साइक्लोन आते हैं, नदी में कटाव होते हैं, प्राकृतिक आपदाएं आती हैं। हमारे देश में पैकेज मांगने का भी फैशन सा हो गया है। डिजास्टर का पैकेज अनुपातिक होना चाहिए। हमारे यहां नदी के किनारे लोग बसते हैं। यूपीए सरकार के कामों का मैं समर्थन करता हूं, जो इस प्राकृतिक आपदा के लिए किए गये हैं। हमें राजनीति से ऊपर उठकर इस बारे में काम करना चाहिए। हमें किसी के नाम का स्टीकर ऐसे कामों पर नहीं चिपकाना चाहिए। इस तरह के स्टीकर चिपकाने की पद्धति को हम नहीं मानते हैं। राष्ट्रीय आपदा के समय, छोटे-छोटे फायदों से ऊपर उठकर काम करना चाहिए।

SHRIMATI V. RADHIKA SELVI (TIRUCHENDUR): Sir, I thank you very much for giving me an opportunity to lay my speech. In this natural calamity discussion . My thanks also go to our beloved leader Shri Kalignar M. Karunanidhi and Jupiter of Tamils Talla Pathi M. K. Stalin.

Sir, my Tiruchendur constituency has land, sea and mountains. Water, which starts its journey from the mountain with millions of cubic water, enters into the sea. During the course of its journey, many people are blessed whereas millions of cubic water enters into the sea without any utilisation. River Thamirabarani in my constituency enters into the sea in the village named Punnakayal. During flood many villages are damaged and millions of cubic water gets into the sea without any help to mankind. Whereas places like Radhapuram and Sathankulam in my constituency are worst affected for lack of water. Now, it is high time that the flow of River Thamirabarani is channelised to help people living in Radhapuram and Sathankulam. Central Government should put in suitable projects to implement this.

Government would not have forgotten the tragedy of Tsunami that occurred in the Andaman and Tamil Nadu. In my constituency, many fishermen have lost their lives and livelihood. Many of their boats were damaged. Some are irreparable and some are repairable. They have lost their shelters also. In Punnankayal and Chinnamuttam sand dunes are formed thereby preventing the fishermen’s entry into the sea. They have to remove the sand dunes before entering into the sea. Government should take proper steps to remove the sand dunes and also find solution to prevent formation of sand dunes. This will provide much help for the people of Punnakayal and Chinnamuttam.

There is a small harbour in Chinnamuttam for the past 20 years. It has the capacity to hold 150 fibre boats. But now 350 boats are there. Due to over-crowding boats get damaged quite often. During Tsunami many boats were *Speech was laid on the Table.

damaged and the loss is around Rs.75 crore. Even though the Central Government has sanctioned the amount, it has not reached the affected fishermen properly. They are worried about their future. Shelters provided to them are in damaged condition. The Central Government should see that fishermen community should get what they have lost during Tsunami. My brothers Shri A.K.S. Vijayan and Shri A. Krishnaswamy have already explained about Ms. Jayalalitha Government’s corruption in detail. So, I do not want to touch that subject again.

Central Government should take steps to provide mini harbours in various fishing villages to minimise damages that may occur during natural calamities in future. Recently, during new moon day, water entered about 100 meters in my constituency. To prevent these calamities, Government should bring in mini harbours at the earliest.

श्री गणेश सिंह (सतना) : सभापति जी, यह साबित हो गया है कि हमारा देश आपदाओं का देश है। हमारे देश में कोई न कोई प्राकृतिक आपदा हर लोग वर्ष आती है, जिससे भयंकर तबाही देश में होती है। हमारे किसान हमेशा कहते हैं कि हम लोग तो पूरी तरह से प्रकृति पर निर्भर हैं और हमारा तो भगवान ही मालिक है। निश्चित ही हमारे देश में यही स्थिति है। प्रकृति का संतुलन दिनोंदिन बिगड़ रहा है और इन आपदाओं के कारणों की जांच अवश्य होनी चाहिए लेकिन सरकार पूरी तरह से गंभीर नहीं है। हमारे देश में आपदा वभिन्न रूपों में आती है। बाढ़, सुखाड़, भूकम्प, चक्रवात, ओलावृष्टि, पाला, भूस्खलन, हिमस्खलन, बादल फटना, आग और कीटों से किसानों की फसल का नष्ट होना। अकेले सुनामी के चलते ६ देश पूरी तरह से तबाह हो गये और लगभग ६७ द्वीप आज भी गायब हैं करोड़ों रुपयों की जन-धन की हानि हुई है। सभापति महोदय सन् ६८४ से लेकर १९४० तक ८४ बार सुनामी लहरें उठीं। चिल्ली में ऐसा हादसा १९६० में हुआ था। इसके बाद २६ दिसम्बर २००४ को यहां पर सुनामी लहरें उठीं। जोकि विश्व की सबसे बड़ी आपदा थी। अकेले हमारे देश में भुकम्प से १९८५ से लेकर अब तक १ लाख ३६ हजार ९७३ लोग मारे गये हैं। सुनामी लहरो से १०,२७३ लोग आंध्रा, केरल, तमिलनाडु, पांडिचेरी और अंडमान-निकोबार में मारे गये और लगभग २२७५० हैक्टेयर भूमि में बोयी फसल नष्ट हो गयी। करीब २ लाख ३९ हजार २४ परिवार पूरी तरह से तबाह हुए। करीब ८३ हजार ७८८ नावें और उनके परिवार के लोग तबाह हुए। करीब ४० फुट ऊंची लहरों ने साबित कर दिया कि प्रकृति का तांडव किसी भी देश में कहर बरपा सकता है। बिहार, असम, मध्यप्रदेश, उत्तर प्रदेश पश्चिम बंगाल, झारखण्ड में बाढ़ से बहुत बड़ा हिस्सा प्रभावित हुआ। उस समय तो पूरा देश लोगो को दु:ख-दर्द से जोड़ने का काम तो करता है लेकिन इसका स्थाई समाधान हम नहीं निकाल पाए, यदि ऐसी ही स्थिति रही तो इस देश की स्थिति और खराब होने वाली है।

19.00 hrs. किसान तथा गरीब आदमी सबसे ज्यादा इस प्राकृतिक आपदा के शिकार होते हैं। आज देश के कई राज्य बाढ़ से प्रभावित होते हैं और कई राज्य सूखे से प्रभावित होते हैं। अभी सुनामी से पीड़ित लोगों को सहायता देने के लिए माननीय स्वर्गीय राजीव गांधी पुनर्वास पैकेज के नाम से मदद की गई। जबकि देश, भर के लोगो ने मदद दिया, एक व्यक्ति के नाम को महिमामडित करना उचित नहीं हैं।

सभापति महोदय : अभी २० माननीय सदस्य और बोलने वाले हैं। इसलिए सदन की सहमति हो तो सदन का एक घंटा और समय बढ़ा दिया जाए।

श्री गणेश सिंह : अभी समुद्री विकास मंत्री जी ने घोषणा की कि हम देश में सुनामी की चेतावनी प्रणाली को १२५ करोड़ रुपए खर्च करके, ढ़ाई साल के अन्दर सुनामी की चेतावनी के बारे में देश को बता सकेगे। अंडमान की जो पांच जनजातियां थीं - जरावा, ओगी, शोम्पेन, सैटनेली, ग्रेट अंडमानी, उन जातियों के लोगों को पता हो गया था कि सुनामी आने वाला है इसलिए वह उस जगह को छोड़ गए। उनकी बिरादरी का एक व्यक्ति प्रभावित नहीं हुआ। क्या इस वधि से हम लोग कुछ नहीं सीख सकते? क्या इन पुरानी वधियों को वैज्ञानिक स्वरूप नहीं दे सकते?

ओलों से देश के कई गांव हर साल तबाह होते हैं। पान का वृक्ष लगाने वाला चौरसिया जब ओला बांधता है तो गांव में कभी ओला नहीं गिरता है। इसी तरह से भूकम्प आने के पहले पशु-पक्षियों को पता लग जाता है। आखिर कोई न कोई प्राकृतिक वधि रही है। हम उस वधि का प्रयोग अभी तक क्यों नहीं कर पाए? क्यों उन प्राकृतिक आपदाओं से लोगों को बचाने का काम नहीं कर पाए? यह एक गम्भीर प्रश्न है ।

प्राकृतिक आपदाओं से निपटने के लिए जितने काम हुए हैं, मैं समझता हूं कि वे पर्याप्त नहीं हैं। अभी मध्य प्रदेश के २२ जिलों, सतना, कटनी, वदिशा, रायसेन जैसे जिलों में और देश के कई राज्यों में इतनी ओलावृष्टि हुई जिससे करोड़ों रुपए की फसल नष्ट हो गई। मैं चाहता हूं कि केन्द्र सरकार कम से कम इतनी व्यवस्था करे कि उन पीड़ित किसानों को फसल का मुआवजा जरूर दे। इसके लिए केन्द्रीय दल को अध्ययन करने हेतु भेजा जाना चाहिए।

सरकार के प्राकृतिक आपदा प्राधिकरण बनाने के फैसले का निश्चित तौर पर हम स्वागत करेंगे। एनडीए सरकार ने भी प्राकृतिक आपदा प्रबंधन समति बनायी थी। देश के कृषि मंत्री श्री पवार जी उस समति के अध्यक्ष थे। उन लोगों ने जो सिफारिशें की थी, मैं चाहूंगा कि इस प्राधिकरण विधेयक में निश्चित रूप से उसका समावेश हो। हम बड़े बांधों को बना कर बाढ़ को रोक सकते हैं। नदियों को आपस में जोड़ने का काम भी हम लोग कर सकते हैं जिससे इन विपत्तियों से गांव के लोगों को बचाया जा सकता हैं जिन किसानों को हम राष्ट्रीय फसल बीमा योजना के अन्तर्गत जोडते हैं, बीमा का क्षेत्र तहसील स्तर बनाया गया है, उनसे किसान लाभान्वित नहीं हो रहे हैं। यदि पटवारी हल्का को आधार स्तर का फसल बीमा योजना मान लिया जाए और कीटों तथा अन्य बीमारियों से जो फसल नष्ट होती है उसे फसल बीमा योजना में शामिल कर लिया जाए तो निश्चित तौर पर किसानों को मदद पहुंचाने का काम किया जा सकता है।

श्री मदन लाल शर्मा (जम्मू) मोहतरम चेयरमैन साहब, मैं आपका मशकूर हूं कि आपने मुझे बोलने का समय दिया। मैं सबसे पहले रूपचन्द मुर्मू जी को धन्यवाद देता हूं कि उनके द्वारा यह चर्चा शुरू की गई। मैं इसके बाद ऑनरेबल होम मनिस्टर को धन्यवाद देता हूं। मैं उनका भी मशकूर हूं। मैं सुनामी पर बोलते समय अगर वही बातें दोहराऊंगा जो बाकी ऑनरेबल मैम्बर्स की स्पीच नोट करते समय हुई हैं तो मेरी भी वही बातें होंगी। मैं समझता हूं कि अपने आपको भी शामिल करता। आज यू.पी.ए. सरकार ने सारी दुनिया के अंदर अपना नाम कमाया है। जब भी हमारे मुल्क पर कुदरती आपदा आयी है,उससे निपटने के लिये बहुत सारी संस्थायें, बहुत सारे देश मदद के लिये सामने आते हैं। लेकिन ऐसा पहली बार हुआ है कि हमारी सरकार ने कह दिया कि हम इससे निपटने के काबिल हैं और इतने मज़बूत हैं कि हमारे मुल्क के लोग इस मुसीबत का मुकाबला करने के लिये इकट्ठे हुये हैं और हम किसी दूसरे मुल्क की मदद इसमें नहीं चाहेंगे। इससे हमारे देश का वकार बढ़ा है, उसका नाम ऊंचा हुआ है। हमने न सिर्फ अपने देश की मदद की बल्कि सुनामी से पीड़ित दूसरे मुल्कों को भी मदद भेजी, जो सुनामी से बरबाद हुये थे। इसमें सरकार की जिम्मेदारी तो बनती है, लेकिन दूरंदेशी एन.जी.ओज़, सुनामी से मुतासरा लोगों के लिये फिल्म इंडस्ट्री के लोग भी आगे आये, सरकार भी आगे आई और देश के लोग भी आगे आये।

सभापति जी, मैं १९६२ की चीन के साथ हुई जंग की याद दिलाता हूं। हमारे देश की बहनों, मातांओं ने अपने ज़्वर बेचकर अपने बहादुर फौजियों के लिये धन भेजा। अपने देश की सलामती के लिये कुछ भी करना पड़े, हम करेंगे। उसके बाद १९६५ की जंग हुई। उस समय हमारा देश इतना एडवांस नहीं था, फिर भी देश के लोगों ने अपनी एकता दिखाकर देश की मुश्किलात का मुकाबला किया। सन् १९७१ की जंग हुई और १९९९ में कारगिल युद्ध हुआ। उस समय हमारा देश मुश्किल में पड़ा था। इसके अलावा कुदरती आपदा भी आई हुई थी और कुछ इनसानों ने पैदा कीं लेकिन उन आपदाओं से निपटने के लिये हम लोगों ने पार्टी-पौलटिक्स से ऊपर उठकर यहां फैसले किए हैं। मैं समझता हू कि हमारा देश अमन-चैन चाहता है। इस ऐवान में मैं यू.पी.ए. की चेयरमैन मोहतरिमा सोनिया गांधी, इनसानियत की मूर्ति मोहतरिम डा. मनमोहन सिंह और मोहतरिम शिवराज पाटिल जी को मुबारकवाद देता हूं। ये लोग फुरसत में सुनामी मुतासरा लोगो के पास पहुचे और उनके आंसू पोंछे। अब यह सरकार की जिम्मेदारी बनती है कि वह उसे निभाये।

सभापति महोदय : जो माननीय सदस्य अपना भाषण ले करना चाहें, वे कर सकते हैं।

श्री मदन लाल शर्मा : अब मैं अपने सूबे जम्मू कश्मीर की बात करूंगा। मैं एक बार फिर से मोहतरिमा सोनिया गांधी को धन्यवाद देता हूं कि जम्मू कश्मीर में बर्फबारी पड़ने के तीसरे ही दिन वे वहां पहुंची। सारी वैली सफेद चादर से घिरी हुई थी। जवाहर टनल में, जहां १८-१८ फुट ्बर्फ् पड़ी थी, हमारे नेता वहां पहुंचे। हमारे सीनियर नेता और डिफैंस मनिस्टर जनाब प्रणब मुखर्जी भी वहां गये। उनके बाद आनरेबल प्राइम मनिस्टर साहब और आनरेबल होम मनिस्टर वहां तशरीफ ले गये। जम्मू कश्मीर में पिछले १५ साल से मलिटेंसी थी और १९९९ में कारगिल वार हुआ, उससे जम्मू कश्मीर की बरबादी हुई। एक तरफ कुदरत का कहर ऐसा कि ३५ सालों के बाद जहां इतनी भारी बर्फबारी हुई लेकिन हमारे लीडर्स के पहुंचने के बाद वहां के लोगों का मनोबल ऊंचा हुआ।

उन्हें ऐसा एहसास हुआ कि सारा हिंदुस्तान और देश की सरकार हमारे साथ है। मौके पर जाकर उन्होंने जो राहत के फैसले किये, उस राहत के लिए मैं अपनी रियासत जम्मू-कश्मीर के आवाम की तरफ से मौअज्जिज ऐवान का, अपनी यू.पी.ए. सरकार, प्रधान मंत्री जी, होम मनिस्टर साहब, डिफैन्स मनिस्टर साहब और सोनिया जी का धन्यवाद अदा किये बगैर नहीं रह सकता हूं। इस कारण वहां के लोगों ने महसूस किया कि सारा देश हमारे पीछे है।

सभापति महोदय, इसके साथ ही मैं कुछ राय देना चाहता हूं। मैं मश्कूर हूं कि जो डिजास्टर मैनेजमैन्ट अथॉरिटी बनाने जा रहे हैं, इस इदारे का क्या काम होगा। कुदरती आफतें तो आती हैं, लेकिन कहीं वर्षा होती है, कहीं फ्लड आती है और बाकी देश में दूसरी आपदाओं से तबाही और बरबादी होती है। लेकिन एक हफ्ते के बाद, हमारी रियासते जम्मू-कश्मीर में, मुख्तलिफ सी बात है कि दो दरिया झेलम और चिनाब हैं, जम्मू-कश्मीर में जितनी ज्यादा गर्मी होगी, बर्फ पिघलेगी और दरियाओं के किनारे पर बसने वाले जितने देहात हैं, वे तबाह और बरबाद होते हैं। जो गुंजान आबादी वाले देहात और एग्रीकल्चरल लैन्ड है, वह बर्बाद होती है।

सभापति महोदय : अब आप कंक्लूड कीजिए।

श्री मदन लाल शर्मा : सर, आप मुझे बोलने दीजिए। आपकी इंटरप्शन से मैं अपनी तकरीर इधर-उधर नहीं करूंगा। लेकिन मुझे समय का एहसास है। मेरा कहना है कि वहां के लिए एक जामा प्लान बनना चाहिए, ताकि जो रोजमर्रा की तबाही और बरबादी होती है, उससे निजात हासिल हो सके और लोगों को राहत मिल सके। मैं ज्यादा कुछ न बोलते हुए आखिर में यू.पी.ए. की सरकार को, प्रधान मंत्री जी को, सोनिया गांधी जी को, होम मनिस्टर साहब को, डिफैन्स मनिस्टर साहब का धन्यवाद करता हूं, जिन्होंने इस मुश्किल वक्त में हमारी रियासते जम्मू-कश्मीर पहुंच कर वहां के लोगों की सुध ली और उनकी हौसला-अफजाई की। …( व्यवधान)

श्री राम कृपाल यादव (पटना) : क्या श्री गुलाम नबी आजाद साहब का शुक्रिया अदा नहीं करेंगे।

श्री मदन लाल शर्मा : आजाद साहब के जराये से सारे लोग वहां पहुंचे। मैं और आजाद साहब तो वहां के लोकल हैं।

Anita डॉ. रामकृष्ण कुसमरिया (खजुराहो) : मान्यवर, प्राकृतिक आपदा जो कि अचानक आती है उससे निपटने की मानसिकता नहीं होती किंतु उसे भोगना मजबूरी होती है । बाढ़, सुखाड़, ओलावृष्टि, चक्रवात, भूकंप, सुनामी आदि कारणों से यह आपदा आती है । इसका विशेष कारण प्राकृतिक संतुलन बिगड़ना होता है और आज कल प्रकृति को छेड़ना इसका प्रमुख कारण है । प्राकृतिक संपदा का दोहन किया जा रहा है जैसे कृषि । कृषि प्राकृतिक संतुलन को बिगाड़ती नहीं वरन् संपोषण करती है, किंतु अंधाधुंध उत्खन्न कोयला तेल एवं भूजल का निकालना यह प्रकृति की क्षति की पूर्ति नहीं करता बल्कि ज्वालामुखी भूकंप जैसी आपदाओं को जन्म देता है । जंगलों की कटाई, पर्यावरण को नष्ट करना एवं ए.सी. एवं फ्रिज और आधुनिक सुख सुविधा के साधनों, नसृत गैस ओजोन मंडल को कमजोर कर रहा है जो निकट भविष्य में अधिक ताप उत्पन्न करेगा तथा पिघाल कर प्रलय की स्थिति पैदा कर सकता है ।

सुनामी से अपूर्व क्षति हुई है । देश के तटवर्ती इलाके पांडेचेरी, अंडमान निकोबार, चेन्नई, त्रिवंनतपुरम के साथ तटवर्ती इलाके प्रभावित हुए हैं जन-धन की हानि हुई है पशुधन का नुकसान हुआ है । इसी तरह चक्रवात में उड़ीसा आंध्रा प्रदेश के अनेक तटवर्ती प्रदेशों में पूर्व से अधिक आपदाएं आ चुकी हैं । इसी तरह लातूर एवं जबलपुर में भूकंप के कारण जन-धन की, पशुधन की हानि हुई है व लोग मकान विहीन हो गए हैं ।

अभी-अभी बुंदेलखंड के क्षेत्र में भयंकर ओलावृष्टि हुई जिससे फसलें नष्ट हो गई हैं । खाने को कुछ नहीं बचा है । उन्हें तत्काल राहत पहुंचाने की आवश्यकता है । विकास कार्य की आवश्यकता है । मेरे क्षेत्र खुजराहो में करीब १०० गांव ओलावृष्टि से प्रभावित हुए हैं । मैं केवल एक बात कहना चाहता हूं कि राहत तो मिलनी ही चाहिए लेकिन साथ ही साथ उनका फसल बीमा का पैसा उन्हें मिलना चाहिए । बीमा कंपनी लूट कर रही है । इसकी प्रक्रिया सरल करें तथा सहायता की इकाई, खेत को माना जाए क्योंकि ओलावृष्टि खेत में ही होती है ।

*Speech was laid on the Table.

मान्यवर, बाढ़, सुखाड़ से निपटने के लिए एनडीए सरकार ने श्री अटल बिहारी जी के नेतृत्व में नदियों को जोड़ने की योजना बनाई थी उसे जारी रखना जरूरी है ।

मान्यवर, प्राकृतिक आपदा को रोकने के लिए आपदा प्रबंधन को सही ढंग से प्रणाली में लाना चाहिए । प्राकृतिक आपदा से बचाव के लिए समुचित उपाय करने चाहिए । पीड़ित लोगों तक तत्काल राहत पहुचाई जानी चाहिए और साथ ही उनके पुर्नवास का कार्य भी तुरंत शुरू हो जाना चाहिए । प्रभावित लोगो को बचाने का कार्य किया जाना चाहिए और उनके घावों पर मरहम लगानी चाहिए ।

उपरोक्त सभी प्रबंधों के लिए विशेष पैकेज का प्रावधान बजट में किया जाना चाहिए । विशेषज्ञों के ज्ञान एवं विज्ञान, तकनीक व सहयोग की आवश्यकता है ।

श्री आलोक कुमार मेहता (समस्तीपुर) : सभापति महोदय, प्राकृतिक आपदाओं पर हो रही चर्चा में आपने मुझे बोलने का समय दिया, इसके लिए मैं आपको आभार व्यक्त करता हूं। प्राकृतिक आपदाओं को दो तरह से वर्गीकृत किया जा सकता है - प्रथम जो आज के दिन तक मानव नियंत्रण में नहीं है और दूसरी जिन पर मानव अपनी इच्छाशक्ति की बदौलत नियंत्रण कर सकता है। जो अनियंत्रित प्राकृतिक आपदाएं हैं, उनमें वर्ष १९९९ में उड़ीसा में सुपर साइक्लोन आया, भुज में वर्ष २००१ में अर्थक्वेक आया, देश के वभिध्र राज्यों में ओलावृष्टि हुई तथा इसके अलावा कुछ जगहों पर बर्फबारी हुई। इनके कारण किसानों की फसलें तबाह हुई, जन-जीवन बरबाद हुआ, जान-माल की क्षति हुई और हाल में दक्षिण भारत में सुनामी की लहरें आईं, जो पूरे विश्व की मानवता के सामने एक चुनौती बनकर खड़ी हैं।

सभापति महोदय, एक अर्थशास्त्री मालथस ने कहा था कि मानव जब जनसंख्या पर नियंत्रण नहीं करेगा, तो प्रकृति अपनी वभिन्न तरह की विभीषिकाओं के साथ उस पर नियंत्रण करेगी। मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि मानव के द्वारा प्राकृतिक संसाधनों के ओवर एक्सप्लॉयटेशन का नतीजा वभिन्न प्राकृतिक आपदाओं के रूप में हमारे सामने आता है। जिन पर नियंत्रण नहीं है, उनका पूर्वानुमान भी नहीं किया जा सकता। मैं अभी हाल ही में एक डेलीगेशन के साथ जापान गया था। वहां पर हमने साइंस एंड टैक्नोलाजी की एक एक्जीबीशन देखी थी जिसमें अर्थक्वेक से संबधित इक्विपमैंट बनाए जा रहे थे, उनको इंप्रूव किया जा रहा था, लेकिन पूर्वानुमान के लिए अभी तक वहां भी किसी तरह के रिसर्च में सफलता नहीं मिल पायी है। इसलिए हम कहना चाहते हैं कि इस देश में जो हुआ और पड़ोस में जो हुआ, सुनामी आपदा आई, जिसकी वजह से भारी तबाही हुई, उसके प्रति हमारी सरकार ने जितनी तत्परता दिखाई और देश के वभिन्न भागों से देश के लोग एनजीओज़ और सरकार की ओर से एक एक व्यक्ति की ओर से जो एकजुटता दिखाई गई, यहां पर सॉलिडैरिटी की बात सार्थक नज़र आती है और इस बात के लिए हम सरकार को धन्यवाद देना चाहते हैं। सरकार ने विदेशी सहायता के बिना इस बड़ी आपदा से निजात पाने के लिए तात्कालिक उपाय करने का काम किया। इसके लिए सरकार धन्यवाद की पात्र है।

मैं इस संबंध में कुछ सुझाव देना चाहता हूं। मौसम विज्ञान के क्षेत्र में रिसर्च एंड डैवलपमैंट को दुरुस्त करने की ज़रूरत है। मौसम कार्यालय और प्रयोगशालाओं को मॉडर्नाइज तथा वैल इक्विप करना तथा स्टाफ को पूरी तरह से ट्रेन करने की जरूरत है। रिजर्व फोर्सेज और पैरा मलिट्री फोर्सेज के साथ साथ एनजीओज़ के वालंटियर्स को भी ट्रेन करने की जरूरत है।

सभापति महोदय : समाप्त कीजिए।

श्री आलोक कुमार मेहता : दुनिया में सामाजिक एवं स्वयंसेवी संस्थाओं तथा सरकारों के बीच तारतम्य होना चाहिए। …( व्यवधान)

सभापति महोदय : आप समाप्त कीजिए। आपकी पार्टी का समय भी खत्म हो गया है।

श्री आलोक कुमार मेहता : विकास के लिए, आपदा प्रबंधन के लिए विशेष फंड बनाए जाने की जरूरत है। सुनामी पीड़ितों के लिए ८००० करोड़ रुपये की सहायता की घोषणा की गई और इसी तरह वभिन्न क्षेत्रों में घोषणाएं की गईं, लेकिन उस पर निगरानी को और दुरुस्त किया जाए क्योंकि जो पीड़ित लोग हैं, उन तक सामान नहीं पहुंच पाता, उनको लाभ नहीं मिल पाता। इस क्षेत्र में व्पायक भ्रष्टाचार है और उस पर अंकुश लगाया जाना चाहिए। …( व्यवधान)

सभापति महोदय : माननीय सदस्य को बार-बार आसन की तरफ से कहा जा रहा है कि समय सीमा का ध्यान रखें। साढ़े सात बजे हमें खत्म करना है।

श्री आलोक कुमार मेहता : एक बहुत महत्वपूर्ण बिन्दु है और वह तकनीकी बिन्दु भी है। …( व्यवधान)

सभापति महोदय : राम कृपाल यादव जी, आप तो सीनियर मैम्बर हैं। आपको तो सदन संचालन में सहयोग देना चाहिए।

...( व्यवधान)

श्री आलोक कुमार मेहता : प्रकृति का अति दोहन करने में कमी आनी चाहिए। हमें मनिमम एक्सप्लायटेशन ऑफ नैचुरल रिसोर्सेज पर ध्यान देना चाहिए। जो प्राकृतिक आपदा मानव के नियंत्रण में आ सकती है, उसमें बाढ़ भी है। …( व्यवधान)

सभापति महोदय : माननीय सदस्य समझ नहीं रहे हैं। अब आसन से ही आपका भाषण समाप्त कर दिया जाएगा।

श्री आलोक कुमार मेहता : बाढ़ की विपत्ति से बिहार और असम जैसे राज्यों में भारी तबाही होती है। उसको रोकने के लिए वहां हाई डैम की बात चली है। इसमें तेजी आनी चाहिए। सुखाड़ से निपटने के लिए जब राजस्थान जैसे राज्य को हरा-भरा बनाया जा सकता है तो निश्चित रूप से बिहार और ऐसे पिछड़े राज्यों में यदि सूखा पड़ता है तो उसके लिए वैसे ही प्रयास किये जाने चाहिए जिससे सभी राज्य हरे भरे बनें। …( व्यवधान)

सभापति महोदय : आपका भाषण समाप्त किया जाता है। प्लीज़ बैठिये। आपकी बात रिकार्ड पर नहीं जा रही है।

(Interruptions)* … श्री आलोक कुमार मेहता : मैं आपका धन्यवाद करता हूँ कि आपने मुझे बोलने का समय दिया।

सभापति महोदय : श्री एम.पी.वीरेन्द्र कुमार।

...( व्यवधान)

सभापति महोदय : बाकी स्पीच ले नहीं कर सकते। इस तरह का नियम नहीं है। आप इस तरह से बैठे-बैठे सुझाव न दें। या तो ले कर सकते हैं या भाषण कर सकते हैं।

*Not Recorded.

SHRI M.P. VEERENDRA KUMAR (CALICUT): Mr. Chairman, Sir, I only want to make one point. I had been to places where Tsunami had hit very badly in Kerala. Alappad area in Kollam district was the area where mineral mining was going on. It was this area which was very badly affected in Kollam district. In the Aratuppuzha area where it was struck, so many people died and became victims of this. 14 kilometres between Aratuppuzha and Harippad, the difference between sea and back water was 15 feet to 50 metres.

Sir, now it is earmarked for mining. If that area is mined, what will happen? The entire sea water will get converted into bad water, and the saline water will get destroyed. There will be an ecological disaster in Kuttanad.

I would make only one more point. The rehabilitation work is going on. But the demonstrations are taking place because there are complaints that the relief is not reaching them. So, it must be monitored.

Sir, the Kerala Government has also estimated a loss of Rs. 1,500 crore. But I do not know how only Rs. 160 crore has been given. Of the total persons affected, two-thirds are the fishermen who have been affected more. So, they have to be given boats and they have to be rehabilitated. But the rehabilitation work, which is going on, is not at all satisfactory.

So, I would urge upon the hon. Minister to kindly see that all these things are properly looked into.

SHRIMATI M.S.K. BHAVANI RAJENTHIRAN (RAMANATHAPURAM): Mr. Chairman, Sir, Vanakkam.

"Kedupathum kettarukkuch charvai matru aange edupathuram ellam mazzhai"

The great poet Iyyan Valluvar clearly states about the main natural calamities -- flood and drought -- in these lines. It means, if we get rain in regular time, people will be happy, but on the other hand, if it fails, people will be put into great disaster. If the rain is heavy, there also people meet inconveniences.

Thus, flood and drought are the main calamities. Every country faces these problems now and then. In our country, the northern part is mainly affected by flood, and the south is by drought. Due to the huge Himalayan mountain, the holy river Ganges is full of water, and sometimes, if she gets angry, she will turn as flood, and thus the calamity comes. On the other hand, in most of the southern parts of India, due to failure of monsoon, the rivers are dry, and so, people face calamity.

Sir, every Member has spoken very well on Tsunami impact. I feel that there are two Tsunamis. One is unexpected Tsunami, which we experienced in December, 2004, and the other is expected Tsunami, that is, the natural calamities like flood and drought.

At this juncture, I want to express a few words about the most backward and watershed constituency, that is Ramanathapuram. Fortunately, it is my constituency. Most of its area is rain-fed looking at the skies for rain. This constituency is economically very backward with insufficient rainfall and inadequate irrigation facilities. The agricultural sector is not sustainable. There are no large industries worth the name. Even the small industries, which are already existing, are on the decline.

Sir, India has definitely not been shining in my constituency. Considering the under-developed conditions of the constituency, which has remained so, for many decades since Independence, there is a compulsive need to think in terms of a special package of assistance from the Government of India to my constituency.

Sir, we know that when an operation is over, we should give more importance to the post-operative care. Similarly, Tsunami is over but after that, people should be relieved from the impact of Tsunami.

Sir, my constituency has got a very long coastal area from Thondi to Kannirasipuram. There, nearly 3.5 lakh fishermen are living. They have no other work except fishing, for their livelihood. Recently, Tsunami has affected people’s day-to-day life very much. The prevailing Government in Tamil Nadu has, under the Tsunami Relief Fund, helped only 20,847 fishermen out of a total of 3.5 lakh. It is very meagre. The Tamil Nadu Government has also failed to provide the relief fund to the original fishermen. The people are in dire need of the financial assistance. So, in order to protect the fishing society, people from Tsunami impact and other natural calamities, a barrier wall should be constructed along the seashore areas under the multi-crore scheme.

Sir, about the wasteland project also, at present, the Government of India has given very negligible funds for the backward districts like Ramanathapuram. I would request the Government of India to sanction more funds for watershed projects under DPAP, IWDP and NWDPRA.

MR. CHAIRMAN : Please conclude now.

SHRIMATI M.S.K. BHAVANI RAJENTHIRAN : I am just concluding, Sir.

Besides, the Government should give suitable financial assistance for the construction of concrete houses for the fishermen in my constituency Most of the children are without parents and most of the ladies are without their husbands, brothers.

So, the Central Government should take suitable steps to save those orphans. Our pathetic condition is that our State Government is not interested in issuing the Tsunami funds to the original fishermen. It is misusing the fund. Other hon. Members from Tamil Nadu have very well spoken about it.

Sir, the Central Government should take special care of the Tsunami- affected areas of Tamil Nadu and should give more package for the fishermen.

श्री हरिभाऊ राठौड़ (यवतमाल) : सभापति महोदय, हजारों कोस दूर जब भूकम्प आय़ा और समुद्र में लहरें उठीं, तो लाखों लोगों को समुद्र ने लील लिया। पूरे विश्व में चिन्ता जताई गई और हर एक ने अपनी सम्वेदना व्यक्त की। सारे देश की जनता बड़े जोर से आगे आई और अपनी पंथ प्रधान नधि तथा एन.जी.ओ. नधि में लोगों ने काफी योगदान किया।

महोदय, मेरे मन में एक प्रश्न उठता है कि जब हजारों किलोमीटर दूर से ये सूनामी लहरें चलती चली आईं। उन्हें यहां तक आने में पांच-छ: घंटे लग गए और इस बीच हमारे पास कोई ऐसी तकनीक या प्रणाली नहीं थी कि हम लोगों को इस बारे में आगाह कर सकें। इससे हमारी कमी जरूर उजागर हुई है। सरकार से एक कदम आगे आकर यहां की जनता ने लोगों की मदद की।

महोदय, इसी प्रकार का एक भूकम्प हमारे महाराष्ट्र के लातूर में भी आय़ा था जिसमें हजारों लोग बर्बाद हुए और हजारों लोग मारे गए। वहां अभी तक रिहैबलिटेशन का काम पूरा नहीं हुआ है। आदरणीय गृह मंत्री श्री शिवराज वि. पाटिल, उसी क्षेत्र से आते हैं। मैं उनका ध्यान दिलाना चाहूंगा कि उन्हीं के डिस्टि्रक्ट में २५ तांडे ऐसे हैं, जिनका रीहैबलिटेशन नहीं हुआ है। होता क्या है कि एक गांव का सर्वे हो जाता है, लेकिन गांव के साथ जो तांडे होते हैं, उनका सर्वे नहीं होता, वे वैसे ही रह जाते हैं। यहीं लातूर में भी हुआ है कि गांवों का सर्वेक्षण तो हो गया, लेकिन उसके साथ लगते तांडे छोड़ दिए गए। पिछली बार हमने मुख्य मंत्री श्री विलासराव जी के साथ मीटिंग की। उन्होंने हमें कहा कि वह तो मेरा डिस्टि्रक्ट है राठौर जी, आप चिन्ता मत कीजिए, मैं कर दूंगा, लेकिन अभी तक २५ तांडों में १५२८ फेमिली ऐसी हैं जिनका रीहैबलिटेशन नहीं हुआ है उन्हें रीहैबीलिटेट करना है। मैं आदरणीय मंत्री जी से विनती करूंगा कि वे इस बारे में विचार करें और उन्हें जरूर देखें और जिन तांडों में फेमिलीज का रीहैबलिटेशन नहीं हुआ है, उनका रीहैबलिटेशन किया जाए।

महोदय, इस बीच, पिछले महीने महाराष्ट्र में, विशेषकर हमारे विदर्भ-मराठवाड़ा में, जलगांव, धुले और नासिक में बड़े-बड़े ओले गिरे। आधा-आधा किलो के ओले गिरे जिनसे पूरे क्षेत्र की फसल बर्बाद हो गई। वहां का किसान बर्बाद हो गया। इससे पहले भी किसानों ने बहुत कठिनाई झेली थी। आपको याद होगा कि हमने इसी सदन में बात उठाई थी कि जून और जुलाई के महीने में किसानों ने अपने खेत बोए, लेकिन फसल नहीं हुई और उन्हें अपने खेतों में दुबारा और तिबारा बीज बोना पड़ा, फिर अब ओले गिर गए, जिससे किसान पूरी तरह बर्बाद हो गया। इसलिए उस क्षेत्र का किसान आत्महत्या कर रहा है। पहले तीन बार बीज बोया। …( व्यवधान)

सभापति महोदय : कृपया कन्क्लूड कीजिए।

श्री हरिभाऊ राठौड़ : सर, कन्क्लूड कर रहा हूं। सर, तीन बार फसल बोने के बाद ओलों से फिर किसान की फसल बर्बाद हो गई। हमारे यहां यवतमाल, चन्द्रपुर, गढ़चिरोली, अमरावती, नागपुर और भंडारा में धान और संतरे की तथा मराठवाड़ा में गेहूं और चने की फसल बर्बाद हो गई। जलगांव, धुले और नासिक में भी यही हुआ है। …( व्यवधान)

सभापति महोदय : राठौर जी, आप केवल समस्या और कारण बता रहे हैं। कुछ समाधान भी बताइए, कुछ सुझाव भी दीजिए।

श्री हरिभाऊ राठौड़ : सभापति जी, मेरा यह कहना है कि जब आदमी मर जाता है, तो हम लोग उसके पीछे दौड़ते हैं, लेकिन जो मरने वाले हैं, उन्हें तो बचाया जा सकता है। आज स्थिति यह है कि किसान मरने जा रहे हैं और हम बार-बार बोल रहे हैं कि किसानों ने अपनी फसल दो-दो और तीन-तीन बार बोई है और फिर ओलों से उसकी फसल बर्बाद हो गई। लोग मरते जा रहे हैं।

सरकार की नीति कैसी है? सरकार को पहले ही इन लोगों की तरफ ध्यान देना चाहिए। हम लोगों के मरने के बाद उनके लिए बहुत संवेदना जताते हैं। महाराष्ट्र में आत्महत्या का सिलसिला नहीं रुकेगा। हम बार-बार सदन में इस बात को उठाते हैं। पिछले महीने मेरे निर्वाचन क्षेत्र में एक जगह आग लग गई, जिसमें २५ घर जल गए। मैं तब डिस्टि्रक्ट कलेक्टर के पास गया और उनसे मैंने मदद मांगी। उन्होंने मुझे कहा कि यह कोई प्राकृतिक आपदा नहीं है। प्राकृतिक आपदा क्या होती है? जब बाढ़ आती है तो लोग बेघर हो जाते हैं, इसलिए इसे भी इस दायरे में लाया जाए और जब गांव के गांव जल जाते हैं तो उसे भी प्राकृतिक आपदा माना जाना चाहिए।…( व्यवधान)

श्री शैलेन्द्र कुमार : इसे सांसद नधि से बनाने के लिए एलाऊ करें।…( व्यवधान)

श्री हरिभाऊ राठौड़ : मैं इसके लिए सहमत हूं। मैंने डिस्टि्रक्ट कलेक्टर को यह भी कहा कि मैं ३५ घर इंदिरा आवास के बनाने को तैयार हूं। मैं अपने फंड से रिलीज करने के लिए तैयार हूं, लेकिन उन्होंने कहा कि अगर बीपीएल धारक होगा तभी हम देंगे, अन्यथा नहीं दे सकते। ऐसी बातें भी देखनी चाहिए, इसके लिए सरकार को जरूर मदद करनी चाहिए। संत सेवा लाल ने कहा था -

"रूपया कटोरा पानी बिकेगा, १२ कोस पर दीया जलेगा, जगबुड़ी आएगी, सब समुद्र में समा जाएंगे।"

अब ऐसा ही लगता है। इस प्राकृतिक आपदा को रोकने के लिए हमें सक्षम बनना चाहिए। जब गांव में किसी को ठेस पहुंचती है तो यहां की सरकार की आंख में आंसू आने चाहिए। हम बार-बार इस बात को सदन में बोलते हैं, लेकिन कोई ध्यान नहीं देता। जीरो ऑवर में भी इस बात को उठाते हैं, तब भी कोई ध्यान नहीं देता।…( व्यवधान)

महोदय, महाराष्ट्र सरकार ने १७५० करोड़ रुपए मांगे थे। वहां दो साल से सूखा पड़ा है। हमने उस समय आठ दिन सदन नहीं चलने दिया था। आपकी सरकार ने कुछ नहीं किया, इस पर सरकार को ध्यान देना चाहिए।

SHRIMATI D. PURANDESWARI (BAPATLA): Thank you, Sir.

I rise today to take part in the discussion under Rule 193 regarding natural calamities in the country. I would initially like to thank my colleague Shri Rupchand Murmu for having initiated the discussion and I thank you also Sir, for having given me the opportunity to speak.

So many words have been spoken about Tsunami here. I would not want to go into the details of it. We all know about the tectonic plates; today we are very wise; we know the difference between the tidal waves and the Tsunami. We know the velocity with which it travels and ultimately we know the disaster which it can leave behind.

However, I would just like to say here that Tsunami which has always been a stuff of the Japanese folklore tales, has really swept into our lives today. As the waters eroded, they not only eroded lands, but they also eroded the self-confidence, the livelihood and even the confidence of millions of people that it has affected.

After every great tragedy of this magnitude, even before the mind has digested the statistics, the gory details, and many words of condolences have been exchanged, it is a long and arduous trek back on to the path of reality. Two areas that should concern us here are: one, how to manage the recovery and rehabilitation with as minimum fuss as possible and second, how better would we be prepared if we are faced with such a situation next time.

I would like to reiterate here the words of the Roman Scholar, Pliny who said that the only thing of certainty is that we are not certain of anything. The killer wave, Tsunami that had originated in the Indian Ocean triggered by the earthquake clearly emphasises this. Managing this necessarily requires flexible and adaptable approaches to environmental management and disaster management also. A High Powered Committee had actually been set up in 1999 and it submitted its report in 2001. But unfortunately I do not think much importance was given to the suggestions put forth by this Committee.

One of the few recommendations, which is of very grave importance, is that the Disaster Management Authority should be under the purview of the Home Ministry and not under the Ministry of Agriculture. I suppose steps are being taken towards this and I deeply appreciate that.

I would just like to restrict myself to the suggestions that I would like to give here. We always wake up very late, after the damage has been done, forgetting that to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Most of us are aware of the fact that Andaman and Nicobar Islands fall in Seismic Zone Five. Just now, Shri Kapil Sibal was mentioning about the seismic zone six, which falls along the foothills of the Himalayas. We are all aware that the Andaman and Nicobar come under the Seismic Zone Five and they are also liable to volcanic eruptions and these two could trigger off the disastrous tsunami.

Here, what is very much required to take into consideration is that even while the entire coast was reeling under the disastrous effects of tsunami, there were small areas like Aureville in Pondicheerry, which actually braved these deadly waves. These areas were not as badly affected as the others. This is stark revelation that if the Coastal Regulatory Zone norms are violated then how badly we could be affected. CRZ norms of 1991 seek to regulate human activities within 500 metres of the coast. This also categorises the coast into four zones. Under the first zone, like one of my colleagues was telling us, which is the most sensitive zone and under this falls the mangroves and the coral reeves and here no developmental activity is to take place. Under Zone two, we have the buildings and towns which almost touch the coast. Under Zone three, we have under developed areas and tourist places where developmental activities can take place on a case to case basis. Zone four includes areas like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. However, these have been violated and there has not been any proper regulation on this. There have been undue construction activity and depletion of underground water resources because of industry. Something very stern and strong should be done about this.

Other than this, I would also like to draw the attention of the House to the Indian Meteorological Department, IMD. Not very long ago IMD had boasted that it had one of the best infrastructures compared to the world. But this boast will shatter to dust when the hon. Minister, Shri Kapil Sibal, himself had accepted that this IMD needed a lot of modernisation and upgradation too. Here, we need to take a cue from the China Meteorological Administration, which includes a professionally run TV station, which provides weather information to farmers, fishermen and others.

MR. CHAIRMAN : Please conclude now.

SHRIMATI D. PURANDESWARI : Sir, please give me a minute more.

One suggestion is that the East Coast of India is very prone to these cyclonic activities. I would like to request the Minister that this East Coast may be declared as cyclone prone area because the infrastructure required should be much stronger than the regular infrastructure. So, Sir, I would request the hon. Minister to consider declaring the East Coast of India, especially the Andhra Pradesh, which falls in that, as the cyclone prone area and give it better infrastructure to that extent.

 

SHRI CHENGARA SURENDRAN (ADOOR): I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to participate in this discussion on natural calamities. I express my deep grief to the people who lost their dear ones and suffered loss of property due to the devastating killer waves that hit the coastal areas on 26th December, 2004.

In this shocking event, actually Tsunami originated in the Sumatra islands and hit the coastal districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu after five hours or more only. In this most modern world, no warning system could work in time to help the victims. This has happened when the world is so interconnected and any event in one end of the world could be known to the people of the other end within seconds.

In on district, namely, Kollam of my State, Kerala, one of the Panchayats, namely, Allappad, was totally washed away. About 200 people died in Kerala and the total loss calculated by the State Government comes to Rs.1500 crore.

I appreciate that the hon. Prime Minister, some Ministers and some national leaders visited the State and met the people who suffered loss of life and property. They have realised the gravity of the problem and allotted Rs.160 crore for rehabilitating the affected people. But majority of the sufferers are still living in the relief camps. The progress of the work being done by the State Government for constructing permanent houses for the affected-people is very slow. When the Central Government has given such an aid for rehabilitation, I would suggest that there should be some committee to monitor the progress of work in which the Members of this House from the affected States are the members. This will enable them to see whether the money which has been given by the Central Government is being utilised for the purpose it is given.

As a result of Tsunami, coastal areas are totally destroyed. Not only this, the income of the poor people from fisheries has totally come to nil. They are not getting fish. So there should be some permanent relief schemes for continuing aid to the fishermen.

The fragile eco-system of the Kerala coast would get upset and an ecological disaster would fall in Kerala, if the mineral sand mining in Kerala coast at Alappad – Arattuppuzha area, as proposed by the Kerala Government is allowed. That should be stopped.

Moreover, there should be some central schemes for developing mangroves and sea wall on the coastal areas to prevent damage that may be caused due to Tsunamis in future.

श्री अविनाश राय खन्ना (होशियारपुर) : महोदय, आज हम बहुत गहन चर्चा इसके बारे में कर रहे हैं । हमने बाढ़, सूखा, साइकलोन, भूकम्प भी और उसके बाद सुनामी से जो इफेक्ट हुए हैं उनको बहुत डिटेल में खास तौर से उन सांसदों ने जिन्होंने सुनामी को अपनी आंखों से देखा है, वहां के नुकसान को अपनी आंखों से देखा है, उसको बहुत विस्तार से कहा है । मैं ज्यादा विस्तार में नहीं जाना चाहता हूं । मैं सिर्फ अपने क्षेत्र के बारे में एक बात कहने के बाद बैठ जाऊंगा। साथ ही साथ मेरे कुछ सुझाव हैं जिन्हें मैं देना चाहूंगा ।

मेरा क्षेत्र तीन भागों में बंटा हुआ है । पहला - कंडी, दूसरा - बीथ और तीसरा - बेट । कंडी और बीथ के जो लोग हैं अगर उनसे पूछा जाए कि आप कितनी जमीन के मालिक हैं तो वे कहेंगे कि बीस एकड़, तीस एकड़, पचास एकड़ के मालिक हैं, लेकिन वे मजदूरी करते हैं । कारण यह है कि उनकी जमीन को पानी नहीं मिलता है । बारिश न हो तो वे बेचारे किसी की जमीन में काम करने के लिए जाते हैं । अगर उन लोगों की जमीन को पानी मिल जाए तो वे कम से कम ५०-५० नौकर अपने पास काम पर रख सकते हैं और अपने इलाके की बेरोजगारी की समस्या को हल कर सकते हैं । दूसरा इलाका बेट का है । वहां पानी ज्यादा है जो प्राकृतिक ड्रेनेज है वह ब्लाक्ड होने के कारण जब थोड़ी सी बारिश हो जाती है तो वहां का किसान जिसने अपनी फसल बोयी होती है, वह उसका पूरी तरह फल नहीं ले पाता है । वहां पर मैनेजेमेन्ट की कमी है । जहां अच्छी तरह से पानी की जरूरत है वहां पानी मिल जाए । जहां पानी की जरूरत नहीं है वहां से पानी निकाल दिया जाए तो पंजाब के उस हिस्से में बाढ़ और सुखाड़ से बचाव किया जा सकता है ।

महोदय, जब सुनामी आई तो हमारी पार्टी की तरफ से आदेश हुआ कि आपने पैसे इकट्ठे करने हैं। मैं वहां का अध्यक्ष हूँ, इस नाते छ: जिलों का कार्यक्रम मैंने अपने हाथ में लिया ।

वह कार्यक्रम यह था कि मैंने लोगों के बूट पालिश करके सुनामी पीड़ितों के लिए पैसा इकट्ठा किया। तीन-चार दिन में छ: लाख रुपये के करीब इकट्ठे हो गए। रिक्शावाला भी पैसा देता था। थोड़ा सा पीछे जाएं तो जब नेताजी सुभाष चंद्र बोस ने देशवासियों से आहवान किया था कि आप मुझे खून दो, मैं तुम्हें आजादी दूंगा तो बहुत से देशवासी आईएनए में शामिल हो गए थे और उन्होंने देश की आजादी की लड़ाई लड़ी। देश आजाद हुआ तो यहां अन्न की कमी आई। तब श्री लाल बहादुर शास्त्री ने आहवान किया कि देश में अन्न की कमी है तो हमें एक टाइम खाना छोड़ देना चाहिए। मैंने आज भी ऐसे कई लोग देखे हैं जो बताते हैं कि हमने खाना छोड़ दिया, यहां तक कि ढाबे और होटल भी बंद होते रहे। इस देश में इतनी कैपेसिटी है। अभी सुनामी आई तो हमारी सरकार ने फॉरेन से एड लेने से मना कर दिया क्योंकि हमें विश्वास था कि हमारे देश के लोग इस विपदा में इकट्ठे होकर पूरी मदद करेंगे।

गृह मंत्री जी डिज़ास्टर मैनेजमैंट अथॉरिटी बनाने जा रहे हैं। हर राज्य ने पैसा मांगा है कि जब यह अथॉरिटी बने तो हमारा ध्यान रखा जाए। यह पैसा कहां से आएगा? मेरे पास एक सुझाव है, क्योंकि cherity begins from home, मैं चाहूंगा कि जितने भी सांसद हैं, कम से कम वे अपनी सैलरी में से, जितनी उनकी इच्छा हो, परमानैंटली उस फंड में दान दें। ऐसा सिस्टम बनाएं कि इस देश के प्राइम मनिस्टर से लेकर चपरासी तक लोग उस फंड में अपना कंट्रीब्यूशन दें ताकि जब आग लगे, हम उस समय पानी इकट्ठा न करें। हमारे पास पहले से धन हो, साधन हों ताकि देश में जब भी विपदा आए, उसे हम सॉल्व कर सकें।

समय कम है लेकिन मेरे मन में यह बात है कि देश की विपदा के लिए हर व्यक्ति का कंट्रीब्यूशन हो क्योंकि जब विपरीत परिस्थिति आती है, जब कोई मुश्किल आती है तो इंसान उससे बहुत कुछ सीखता है। देश में भूकम्प आए, सुनामी आई, बाढ़ आई, लोगों ने दान दिया। मैं चाहूंगा कि आप जब भी यह अथॉरिटी बनाएं, उस फंड में देश का पैसा लगातार जाए, ऐसी व्यवस्था जरूर करें।

इतनी बात कहते हुए मैं बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद करता हूं।

SHRI DHANUSKODI R. ATHITHAN (TIRUNELVELI): Mr. Chairman, Sir, I am grateful to you for giving me this opportunity to speak on this important subject.

Sir, calamity is a natural disaster that happens frequently and so the States as well the Central Government should be more concerned about this. India is the largest democracy in the world. Dr. Bhimrao Babasaheb Ambedkar gave this country a Constitution and leaders of this great country like Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Rajaji, Kamraj and others declared our nation as a Welfare State. So, the Government should do anything and everything for the welfare of the people of this country. Whenever people are in distress, the Government should come forward to help them out of their distress. The great Tamil saint and Poet Thiruvalluvar said, " Udukkai Izhandavan Kaipola aange, Idukkan Kazhaivadam Natpu" - this means that whenever there is dust on our body, our hands automatically comes to remove the dust. Likewise, whenever our people are affected and they are in difficulty, we should come to their rescue immediately.

Sir, natural calamities in a larger sense may be divided into five major heads, namely, earthquake, cyclone, flood, drought and fire. Of all these, earthquake is the most devastating. The origin of earthquake is also from earthquake which was 8.5 on the Richter scale.

At 6 a.m. on the 26th of December, 2004, the earthquake which was formed in the Sumitra Islands had hit Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and India and caused unprecedented havoc in all these countries. We can say that 26th December, 2004 is a black day for India. The Eastern and Southern coastal parts of India have been severely affected by the killer waves. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, particularly Car Nicobar, had been totally devastated and destroyed. Andaman, Visakapatnam, Guntur, Prakasam in Andhra Pradeseh, Pondicherry and 13 districts of Tamil Nadu including Chennai have been affected besides Kollam and Allapuzha of Kerala. Tsunami waves are new to India. Nobody actually knows about the velocity and the magnitude of the waves. Within a fraction of a second, it had swallowed thousands of people. In Chennai, people who were walking on the sea shore and the children who were playing were swallowed by the killer waves.

Immediately after the heart-rending disaster, the Chairperson of the UPA and the Congress President, Shrimati Sonia Gandhi, our hon. Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Ministers of the Central Government including all leaders rushed to the affected areas and consoled the people affected by Tsunami. The UPA Chairperson, Shrimati Sonia Gandhi consoled the people and discussed about the relief measures. She has shown keen interest and taken utmost care to help the victims of the Tsunami waves. She has directed the State Chief Ministers ruled by the Congress Party to act on the relief measures on a war footing. She has directed all the PCC Presidents, MPs and MLAs to get actively involved in the relief activities physically as well as financially.

The hon. Prime Minister visited Tamil Nadu twice and consoled the affected families. He assured the people that all their damages whether they are houses, boats, nets, cattle and other things will be set right and the Central Government will compensate for all the losses. He announced Rs. 1 lakh per head as death compensation.

The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President, Shri G.K. Vasan, under direction and guidance from the Congress President, has visited all the villages which have been affected by Tsunami. He has toured and spent most of his valuable time for about 15 days in consoling the affected people. He distributed goods worth crores of rupees to the affected people from Chennai to Kanyakumari.

I wish to compliment the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and the PCC Presidents who have liberally donated money and materials to the Government of Tamil Nadu and PCC, Tamil Nadu. I wish to appreciate Dr. Kalaignar, the DPA Chairman who has donated Rs. 1.25 crore to Shrimati Sonia Gandhi and Shri Stalin, MLA who has given Rs. 21 lakhs to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Besides that, I wish to compliment Shri Dayanidhi Maran, Mr. Kalanidhi Maran and the SUN TV which contributed more than Rs. 5 crore through their viewers. The Hindu contributed Rs. 10 crore through its readers to the Prime Minister Relief Fund and all the State Chief Ministers also contributed to the affected people.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Please conclude now.

SHRI DHANUSKODI R. ATHITHAN : I also compliment Shri Pranab Mukherjee for directing the Defence personnel for rescue operations.

MR. CHAIRMAN: Shri Santosh Gangwar may present the BAC Report to the House.

     

19.54 hrs. DISCUSSION UNDER RULE 193 Natural Calamities in the Country – Contd.

श्री चन्द्रमणि त्रिपाठी (रीवा) : सभापति महोदय, बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद। नियम १९३ के तहत प्राकृतिक आपदा की बहस ऐसे समय में हो रही है, जब हम सुनामी की प्रलयकारी विनाश लीला से उभर नहीं पाये हैं। इसको शायद रोका नहीं जा सकता था। अगर हमारी सरकार ने विज्ञान और तकनीकी का सहारा लिया होता, जो नये-नये शोध हो रहे हैं, उनका सहारा लिया होता तो शायद इतनी बड़ी तादाद में जन-धन की हानि न होती।

लेकिन समूचे राष्ट्र ने जिस एकजुटता के साथ सुनामी त्रासदी के समय खुले मन से पूरी ताकत के साथ काम किया है और उन लोगों की मदद की है, समाज के हर वर्ग और हर क्षेत्र के लोगों ने मदद की है, वह प्रशंसनीय है। लेकिन मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि यह केवल सुनामी की दुर्घटना ही देश में नहीं हुई है बल्कि पूरे देश के किसी न किसी भाग में हर वर्ष कभी कहीं अतिवृष्टि के कारण बाढ़ से, कहीं अनावृष्टि के कारण सूखे से, कहीं ओले पड़ने से और कहीं आगजनी से करोड़ों की जन-धन की हानि हो जाती है। लेकिन मैं केवल मौजूदा सरकार की बात नहीं कर रहा हूं, आजादी के बाद से आज तक इस प्राकृतिक आपदा से निपटने के लिए कोई दीर्घकालीन योजना नहीं बनाई गई। जब बाढ़ आ जाती है, तब हम काम करते हैं। तात्कालिक योजनाएं तो बनी हैं लेकिन कोई दीर्घकालीन योजना नहीं बनी है और इसी के तहत करोड़ों के जन-धन की हानि हो जाती है। इससे सबक लेते हुए यू.पी.ए. की सरकार से मैं कहना चाहूंगा कि जो वे डिजास्टर मैनेजमेंट बना रहे हैं, वह करें लेकिन यह प्राकृतिक आपदा नहीं आने पाए, इसके लिए भी कुछ करें।

मैं बड़ी विनम्रता से कहना चाहता हूं कि चिता की आग में रोटी सेंकने का काम नहीं करें। चूल्हे की आग में हर कोई रोटी सेंकता है लेकिन ऐसी त्रासदियों में चिता की आग में रोटी नहीं सेंकनी चाहिए। इस देश में प्रधान मंत्री राहत कोश है। मेरी समझ में नहीं आ पा रहा है कि व्यक्ति पूजा की किस सीमा तक यह सरकार जाएगी? किसी व्यक्ति विशेष के नाम पर कोई राहत कार्य खोला जाना, क्या यह त्रासदी से निपटने का तरीका है ? मैं बड़ी विनम्रता से कहना चाहूंगा कि माननीय गृह मंत्री जी यहां बैठे हैं, वह राजनीति में काफी अनुभवी हैं, मैं कहना चाहूंगा कि व्यक्ति पूजा से ऊपर उठो। व्यक्ति कितना ही महान हो, पथभ्रष्ट हो सकता है और इसलिए पथ देखना चाहिए, पथिक नहीं देखना चाहिए।…( व्यवधान)

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI BIJOY HANDIQUE): Why does the Member talk about irrelevant things? We are running against time. … (Interruptions)

MR. CHAIRMAN : Nothing will go on record except Shri Tripathi's speech.

श्री चन्द्रमणि त्रिपाठी : अभी उड़ीसा में चक्रवात से तबाही मची थी। गुजरात और मध्य प्रदेश में भूकम्प से तबाही हुई थी और उससे निपटने के लिए कोई योजना नहीं है। जब फसल नष्ट हो जाती है तो केवल नाम मात्र की सहायता दी जाती है।

सभापति महोदय : त्रिपाठी जी, आप तो अनुभवी सदस्य हैं। कम समय में अपने सुझाव दे सकते हैं। मोटे तौर पर आप अपने सुझाव दीजिए।

श्री चन्द्रमणि त्रिपाठी : आज आरबीसी के तहत, अंग्रेजों के जमाने में जो बनी थी, आज चीजों के दाम बहुत बढ़ गये हैं, परिस्थितियां बदल गई हैं लेकिन उसी आरबीसी के तहत मदद की जा रही है। मैं कहना चाहूंगा कि जिस तादाद में किसानों की फसल चौपट होती है, केवल आंसू पोंछने का काम होता है, ऊंट के मुंह में जीरा का काम किया जाता है।…( व्यवधान)

सभापति महोदय : अब आपका समय समाप्त हो रहा है। आज समय ज्यादा नहीं है। अब आप समाप्त कीजिए।

श्री चन्द्रमणि त्रिपाठी : अभी दो मिनट ही मुझे हुए हैं। मैं एक मिनट में अपनी बात समाप्त कर रहा हूं। मैं कहना चाहूंगा कि बाढ़ को रोकने के लिए,…( व्यवधान) What are you saying?

20.00 hrs. (Interruptions)* … MR. CHAIRMAN : No, No. Nothing will go on record.

(Interruptions)* … MR. CHAIRMAN : Nothing will go on record.

(Interruptions)* … सभापति महोदय : कोई भी असंसदीय शब्द प्रोसीडिंग्स में शामिल नहीं किए जाएंगे।

श्री चन्द्रमणि त्रिपाठी : नदियों को जोड़ने का काम होना चाहिए, … (Interruptions)

*Not Recorded.

MR. CHAIRMAN : Please take your seat.

श्री चन्द्रमणि त्रिपाठी : नदी तटों की सफाई होनी चाहिए और नदियों के किनारे जो अतिक्रमण हुए हैं, उनको हटाया जाना चाहिए। मैं कहना चाहता हूँ कि और क्षेत्रों में जब नुकसान होता है तो एलआईसी से मदद मिलती है, उसी तरह इसमें भी मदद मिलनी चाहिए। इसी के साथ आपने मुझे बोलने का अवसर दिया इसके लिए मैं आपको धन्यवाद देता हूँ।

सभापति महोदय : माननीय सदस्यों, अभी आठ बज रहे हैं, पहले सदन का समय एक घण्टे के लिए बढ़ाया गया था। मैं समझता हूँ कि अभी पांच-छ: सदस्यों को और बोलना है। अत: सदन का समय बढ़ाया जाता है।

चौधरी लाल सिंह (उधमपुर) : महोदय, आज आपकी अनुमति से जो चर्चा हो रही है और उसमें भाग लेने की मुझे आपने जो अनुमति दी है, उसके लिए मैं आपका शुक्रिया अदा करता हूँ। महोदय, फ्लड और ड्रॉट के हालात तो हर वर्ष आते ही रहते हैं और बीच-बीच में भूकम्प, सुनामी और जैसा अभी रियासते जम्मू-कश्मीर में तीस साल बाद स्नोफाल और बारिश हुई है इनसे बहुत नुकसान होता है। चाहे सुनामी हो या जम्मू-कश्मीर में एवलांश, इस दौरान आर्मी और एयरफोर्सेज का जो रोल रहा है, उसके लिए मैं उनको आपके माध्यम से धन्यवाद देता हूँ। आर्मी, एयरफोर्सेज और पैरा-मलिट्री फोर्सेज ने कनेक्टिविटी बनाने में जो काम किया और लोगों की जानें बचाईं, उसके लिए भी मैं शुक्रिया अदा करता हूँ। इन आपदाओं के बारे में मैं कुछ सुझाव देना चाहूंगा। पहला सुझाव यह है कि ऐसी स्थितियों से निपटने के लिए एक एक्ट बनाया जाना चाहिए तभी आप डिजास्टर मैनेज कर पाएंगे, जिसमें रियासती सरकारों और सेन्ट्रल गवर्नमेंट की रिस्पांसबलिटीज फिक्स हो जाएगी। पहले जो सरकारें रहीं, वे इसे नहीं ला सकीं, मैं उम्मीद करता हूँ कि वर्तमान सरकार इस तरह का एक एक्ट लाएगी, जिसके अन्दर एक कानूनी हद बन जाए कि जब ऐसे हालात बनते हैं तो क्या-क्या काम किए जाने हैं, अदरवाइज जब कभी कोई आपदा आती है तो अचानक यह सोचना पड़ता है कि अब हम क्या करें, राशन कहां से भेजें, आर्मी कहां से लाएं, मकान कहां से दें, टेंट कहां से दें, जानें कैसे बचाएं, इक्विपमेंट कहां से लाएं, बर्फ तोड़ने वाले कहां से लाएं, रास्ता कैसे खोलें - यह सब हमने प्रैक्टिकली अपनी आंखों से देखा है। यह सारी चीजें तभी हो सकती हैं जब आप इसके लिए एक परिपक्व हल खोजें।

इसके साथ ही मैं यह भी कहना चाहता हूँ कि फ्लड वाले पैसे, ड्रॉट वाले पैसे हर साल स्टेट्स को जाते हैं, हमारे स्टेट में भी जाते हैं। यह ध्यान रखने योग्य है कि जिन एरियाज को आपने ड्रॉट-प्रॉन एरिया का नाम दिया है, आप लगातार उन डिस्टि्रक्ट्स को पैसा आप देते आ रहे हैं। लेकिन इन डिस्टि्रक्ट्स में ड्रॉट बढ़ा है, कभी घटा नहीं, उसमें कोई तब्दीली नहीं आई है। इसलिए नहीं आई कि यह पैसा जमीन पर नहीं लगता है। महोदय, मैं यह कहना चाहूंगा कि जब आप पैसा देते हैं तो एक मॉनीटरिंग सैल या कमेटी जरूर बनाएं ताकि लोगों को पैसा मिल सके। जैसे जब किसी के घर में कोई मरता है तो चार्जी को मौका मिलता है कि चलो अच्छा हुआ इसके घर में कोई मरा है। इसी तरीके से किसी थाने में कोई कत्ल होता है तो थानेदार खुश होता है कि बहुत अच्छा हुआ कोई फंसा, इलाके में कत्ल हुआ है। मेरे कहने का मतलब है कि मौका देखकर कई लोगों की दुकानें खुल जाती हैं। जब फ्लड आता है या जब ड्रॉट आता है तो कई लोगों की दुकानें खुल जाती हैं। ऐसी दुकानों को पक्के तौर पर बंद कर देने की जरूरत है।

MR. CHAIRMAN : Please take your seat. माननीय सदस्य, आपका समय पूरा हो गया है, कृपया समाप्त कीजिए। आपके पास आधा मिनट शेष है।

चौधरी लाल सिंह : महोदय, मैं समाप्त कर रहा हूँ। हमारी जनता के जो निर्वाचित सदस्य हैं, जो रिप्रेजेण्टेटिव्स हैं, उनको अपनी कांस्टीचुवेंसी में यह रिस्पांसबलिटी जरूर दी जाए कि वे अपने क्षेत्र में होने वाले ऐसे कामों को देख सकें। इसके साथ ही मैं यह कहना चाहता हूँ कि मेरी अपनी कांस्टीचुवेंसी में १५ हजार मकान देने के लिए सर्वे हुआ है।

मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि हमें २०,००० मकान चाहिए। आप कृपा करके इस तरफ ध्यान दें। कुछ रिलीफ दीजिए, हमारे वहां फूड और फॉडर दोनों की समस्या है। मैं अपने कुछ इलाकों का जिक्र करना चाहता हूं, जो इस बार की बर्फबारी से काफी प्रभावित हुए हैं। ये इलाके किश्तवार, माड़वा, बाड़वन, दशन, इन्द्रवल, मुगल मैदान, शात्रु, अस्सर, बग्गर, अठोली, पाडर, ठाठरी, भलेसा, गोहा, देसा, बनिहाल, रामबन, पोगालपरिस्तान, चिनानी, डूडू, बसंतगढ़, सन्नासार, पटनीटाप, लाटीडूणा, रामनगर, मजालता, बिलावर, बनी, बसौली, धर्ममहानपुर, धारडुगनू, धारजंखल, कठुआ, अठियालता, अठून, उधमपुर और डोडा हैं। कश्मीर में कुछ एरियाज में एवलाचेंज हुए। वे इसलिए हुए, क्योंकि लोगों ने जंगल काट लिए और ऊपर तक चले गए। इसलिए जो सरकारी जंगल हैं, उनकी तरफ ध्यान दिया जाए। अगर हम नेचर को अननेचुरल बनाएंगे तो जब हम उल्टा करते हैं, नेचर भी उल्टा करता है।

SHRI TAPIR GAO (ARUNACHAL EAST): Mr. Chairman, Sir, I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity.

Sir, we are discussing the natural calamities and about national disaster management in this august House. This is a kind of shedding crocodile tears. हिन्दी में मगरमच्छ के आंसू कहते हैं। We are simply discussing the occurrence. We are simply highlighting the problems faced by the victims when such natural calamities strike. This country needs important attention to this problem. This country needs a separate Ministry, Budgetary provisions for solving all these issues every year.

We have got natural calamities, earthquakes, snow-fall affected areas, rain and flood affected areas throughout the country. This country, Bharat, has got different characteristics of geographical picture. Without taking much time, I will take the august House towards the North-Eastern region. From Bihar to the entire North-Eastern region, this is a permanent phenomenon every year. After every six months, we are going to face the problem. We are facing the flood situation in that part of the country. I am concerned about drought, snow-affected areas also. But a permanent phenomenon that distorts the eastern part of the country every year is this. Every year, we are simply getting Rs.40 or Rs.50 crore for the areas from Bihar to the North-Eastern region. I would like to inform the hon. Minister that the characteristics of the rain and flood in the North-Eastern region is different from Bihar or Assam also. In the mountainous and hilly areas, once there is a major flood, the entire geography of the land surface is totally affected. I will cite one example.

Last time, we had a major flood in Arunachal Pradesh. The major tributaries of the river Brahmaputra are inside Arunachal Pradesh. जब हाथी को पकड़ना है तो माथे से पकड़ना ठीक है, अगर पूंछ से पकड़ेंगे - if we try to catch hold of the elephant by its tail, we are doing nothing. In Arunachal Pradesh, we have got five major tributaries of the river Brahmaputra. The Tributaries of Brahmaputra, which regard flood control management, as per your view, I am suggesting the remedies.

Inside Arunachal Pradesh, we have got five major tributaries of the river Brahmaputra. All the rain waters from Tibet and the Himalayan Region flow into Arunachal Pradesh. We face floods for six months. The flood water accumulates and it affects entire Assam and even the neighbouring countries. That is why, we need a Budgetary provision for flood control. The country needs a separate Ministry and separate management at the State level, district level to tackle such situation.

Last time also, the hon. Prime Minister visited. Every year, the hon. Prime Minister and the Minister concerned hire a helicopter to visit the affected areas of the North-Eastern region.

20.10 hrs. (Mr. Deputy-Speaker in the Chair) In spite of this management system, in spite of the visits which are made by the hon. Prime Minister and hon. Ministers concerned, a huge amount is spent in the management of helicopters and all that. In spite of that management system, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, the floods and natural calamities have affected the areas. The Government of India should constitute a special team permamently for such affected areas. Before the expiry of six months, we should constitute a high-powered Committee. It should come forward to help the victims. One of my hon. friends from Gujarat has cited about the Gujarat earthquake. All these problems are due to lack of proper management system. Even the Tsunami-hit victims are not getting even their due compensation. We should set up separate committees at the Central level, at the State level or at the District level. It is my humble appeal to the hon. Minister that we should provide for separate budgetary allocation for such natural calamity..

 

SHRI J.M. AARON RASHID (PERIYAKULAM): Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, on 26 December, 2004, the Tsunami killer wave hit the 600 kilometre long coastal areas of Tamil Nadu. On the very next day, Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singhji, our Chairperson of UPA and our beloved Congress leader Smt. Sonia Gandhiji and Rahul Gandhiji came to Chennai and visited the Tsunami-hit areas. Shrimati Sonia Gandhiji consoled the fishermen who have lost their properties, namely, fishing boats, roving boats, catamarans, houses and their personal belongings. The thatched houses of poor fishermen have been fully destroyed. The Central Government came with an immediate helping hand by sending Paramilitary Forces and the Tamil Nadu State Police personnel helped the victims. Temporary shelters and camps had been put up. Food and medicines were supplied by the Central Government to the needy people affected by Tsunami. From our UPA Central Government, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, our Home Minister and Shrimati Ambika Soni along with Madam Chairperson of UPA, visited the affected areas. Madam Soniaji went to the far-away places even by road and in helicopter to all the coastal areas. … (Interruptions)

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: This will not go on record, except the speech of the hon. Member.

(Interruptions)* … SHRI J.M. AARON RASHID : After the visit of our Prime Minister and Madam Soniaji, the Central Government has given an immediate relief package of Rs. 1,400 crore to Tamil Nadu for which I am very thankful to them. I would like to request the Central Government that the amount should go directly to the affected persons. Yesterday also, there was a big protest and road roko in Cuddalore. The Tamil Nadu Police lathi-charged the crowd and chased them away. The hon. Minister of State for Law and Justice is also here. Many people were injured and they were admitted in the hospital.

*Not Recorded.

The affected fishermen are not getting the Government subsidy and help. The local State ruling party people are benefited.… (Interruptions) Shri Swain, please do not disturb me.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Nothing will go on record.

(Interruptions)* … SHRI J.M. AARON RASHID: I would like to bring to the notice of the Government one important aspect. घर में बहुत किरायेदार हैं लेकिन किरायेदारों को कुछ नहीं मिलता है, घर के मालिक को सब कुछ मिलता है। किरायेदार रोटी के लिए रोज काम करके घर आता है और १००० रुपया किराया देता है। सरकार जो फैसलिटीज देती है, वह किरायेदारों को भी मिलनी चाहिए। Many people lost all their belongings. At least, they should be given some compensation.

In Nagore, the minority Muslims, as a goodwill gesture, came forward to help the Government and removed the dead bodies and buried them in Muslim burial grounds. Kulachal town of Kanyakumari district is badly affected.

Sir, many places in the constituency of our hon. Minister of State for Home Affairs are also affected by the Tsunami tragedy. The affected places are, Ammapattinam, Jagadapattinam, Kottaipattinam, Manamelgudi, Meemisal, Kattumangudi, Mallipattinam and Adhirampattinam. In these places, all the fishermen have lost their boats and their belongings.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Please conclude.

SHRI J.M. AARON RASHID : Sir, I am concluding.

Then, Velankanni and Nagappattinam are the worst affected areas in Tamil Nadu. Whatever has been promised by the UPA Government has been fulfilled. But we have completely forgotten the salt industry. We have not done anything to the salt industry. Everybody who spoke here spoke on behalf of house owners, boat owners, catamaran owners, but not on behalf of the people working in the salt industry.

*Not Recorded.

Sir, salt was an instrument chosen by Mahatma Gandhi to drive out the mighty British Empire. In this 75th year of the Salt Satyagraha undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi, known as ‘Dandi March’, it is being reenacted now. We got freedom due to Dandi March and our BJP people are enjoying the fruits in Gujarat with their Government over there. Salt is the cheapest product and it is very sensitive. Salt comes under Central Subject. It is very pathetic that the Government of Tamil Nadu has not looked into the plight of the salt industry and its poor workers. So, I would request the Central Government to step in immediately and give relief to the orphaned salt workers.

Sir, in the Nagappattinam district of Tamil Nadu alone, more than 6,000 people have lost their lives. Many people have lost their near and dear ones and all their properties. My sincere and humble request to the UPA Government is to extend further help to the Tsunami-affected people.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Please conclude now.

SHRI J.M. AARON RASHID : Sir, I am just concluding.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: If you do not conclude now, I am going to call the next speaker. Shri A.V. Bellarmin.

SHRI J.M. AARON RASHID : Sir, I would request the Central Government to send a committee of experts to monitor and review the relief works being carried out there. It would be a great help to the affected people there. I, once again, request the Central Government to send a team immediately to Tamil Nadu to review the relief works which have been done till now and also extend more help immediately to the affected people.

SHRI A.V. BELLARMIN (NAGERCOIL): Sir, we may have come across several natural disasters. But the one that has affected us seriously and occupy our minds still is tsunami the tragedy of the century. Our Nagercoil constituency was hit hard and the second largest loss of lives and property has taken place there. In Tamil Nadu, the second most affected district is ours. This tsunami that had caused great havoc in several parts of the world in several States of our country had hit many districts in our State of Tamil Nadu. Our district suffered the second largest devastation in Tamil Nadu. I do not find matching words to describe the huge loss of life and property in our fishing villages and small harbours. Even if I find words I am afraid I may not be able to find time during this discussion as the time is being restricted or regulated. Hence, I want to record in this august House certain important things. What followed tsunami the harbour wave was the humanitarian wave that came as wave after wave. It is only with that humanitarian help that people affected by tsunami got immediate help and relief above all rescue operations help. It is only with the help from the public that came forth generously and instantly timely help was extended in digging out corpses from beneath the debris and muddy beaches. It took at least two to three days for both the Governments at the Centre and the State to come to the aid of the affected people. We must rise above politics and must look into the relief and rehabilitation process with all its seriousness it warrants at this grave moment. I would like to point out that our huge administrative machinery needs to be geared and tuned to handle disaster management of this magnitude and natural disaster of any kind. Our men need to be trained in a proper way. We must set up suitable organisational structure to effectively intervene and manage disaster relief work. We must take care to see that forewarning mechanisms and systems must be in place as prevention is always better. The people who were affected need lasting   *Tranlation of the Speech originally delivered in Tamil.

rehabilitation measures than immediate cosmetic interventions that are short term. Long term strategies must be evolved to provide lasting solution. Fishermen have been affected mostly and hence there is an urgent need to provide shelter and tools for their livelihood. Catamarans, vallams, boats and mechanised boats along with nets and angles are required to rebuild and restart their lives. Interim relief work has got many lacunae and lapses. Shelters that were raised immediately after tsunami are not in a livable condition so soon. So, permanent rehabilitation measures must focus on providing things needed to carry out these occupations that are most often traditional in nature. If well laid structures are to be raised as shelters as part of permanent and lasting rehabilitation measure, I would like to suggest certain things to be borne in mind. New housing facilities must be sufficiently kept apart from the seas. When it comes to housing for the tsunami affected, the funds claimed to have been apportioned are quite substantial. It is said the Centre is extending Rs 2800 crore. State administration is also expected to spend considerably on shelter. A good amount has been mobilised as contribution to the Chief Minister’s relief fund. Many agencies have come forward to construct cluster of houses to rehabilitate people who have been rendered homeless. Many NGOs have also come to the fore. Even now there is no proper coordinating mechanism to avoid overlapping of and duplication of work. Hence I urge upon the Government to ensure viable coordination. Based on that, permanent settlements have to be raised intact in locales that cannot be hit easily by the waves even during cyclonic storm and even during tsunamis. Even before tsunami could destroy houses, the State Government-built housing-clusters collapsed. That much for construction. Sir, when Government goes in for constructing houses they must entrust the job with professional agencies that can ensure standard and quality of construction. We need to maintain our coast line also from being affected further. In our coastal areas, rare earth in our sands is being quarried by several private players. Removal of sands is carried out uninterrupted. This will add to the vulnerability of our coastal areas in the face of inundating sea waters. There must be a ban on sand quarrying on our beaches. Enough technical know how must be developed to have more of mangroves in our sea shores that would avoid both sea erosion and devastating force and impact of tidal waves. Boulders must not be spread across our sea shores. Instead lasting and conserving methods must be adopted. As far as Kanyakumari district is concerned more than 2000 fishing boats were in operation. Already there are proposals to develop four fishing harbours. Kolachal harbour must be expanded further to improve economic activities and sea transportation. While carrying out permanent rehabilitation work, AVM canal in that area could be included as part of infrastructure development for a lasting solution to overcome the problems that are being faced by the people there now. This can generate employment opportunities. So I urge upon the Government to take up lasting projects for permanent rehabilitation. When we are putting our heads and hearts together to bring about lasting relief to those affected by the swallowing tsunami, we must ensure that our schemes are not swallowed by ‘corruption tsunami’.

At this juncture I would like to thank our hon. Prime Minister, our hon. Chairperson of the Advisory Council to the Government Mrs Sonia Gandhi and other Union Ministers who have visited the tsunami ravaged areas. I also thank our hon. Speaker of Lok Sabha who had impressed upon the hon. Members of Parliament to donate liberally from MPLADS funds towards tsunami relief. I also thank all the donors who have donated generously to help rebuild the lives of gloom marooned people hit by tsunami.

With this, I conclude.

   

SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU (RAJAPUR): Mr. Deputy-Speaker Sir, since there is a disaster situation and time management, I will not make a speech, I will only make points.

Sir, firstly, the Government should prepare a complete Atlas, a mapping of the disaster prone areas and one should prepare that map using GIS and other technology. You must compulsory insist on insurance cover for all those who live in high risk disaster prone areas because it is not possible for any Government to provide funds indefinitely and infinitely for a disaster management operation.

Secondly, you must involve more and more voluntary organisations into disaster management area. I am happy that yesterday only, the hon. Home Minister has convened a meeting of Home Guards. I think, we really need to create more such cadres from schools, from colleges, with factories who can respond to disaster in a very short time because it is not possible that the Government can create a standing team for disaster management.

Thirdly, we really need to find out, how compulsory insurance will be introduced in a high risk disaster management area. That will prevent people from settling in that area. Like, when Tsunami came, in fact, there was a clear violation of Coastal Regulation Zone, CRZ. If the people had not settled down there, probably many lives could have been saved. The CRZ should also be implemented in a very strict manner and that also should be done.

Sir, another thing that I would like to say is that in every district there is a team, but it needs a serious revamp. I remember when I used to go to the school, everyday, at 9 o’clock in the morning, a siren used to go. It was just to test whether the siren was working or not. I think, for this disaster team, at the district level, there should be a regular drill that will be conducted so that they do not wake up only at the time when the disaster comes. So, they should do it on an on-going basis.

 

Sir, another thing is that we should introduce a new building code. Most of the people died because the building collapsed and they died under the debris. If we have buildings, like in Japan, which is an all time earthquake prone area, then the number of casualties would be less.

Every time when the earthquake takes place, neither many people die nor the property loss is more. So, we really need to change our building code in a big way.

The second point is that rapid response mechanism should now be introduced. We need some core team all over the country which can really respond rapidly to supplement this informal structure that would be created, and that should be taken into consideration.

While we talk about natural calamities, there are certain man-made calamities that we are encountering now. We have seen that in cyclical and regularity, floods come and droughts come. We really need an action plan which the Home Minister mentioned while he was intervening in the debate last time. We really need a drought proofing of this area and that we can do.

The other one is that all these will not fall in place unless we really go to the rootcause, that is, the rise in population. The density of population in a square kilometre ratio is so high. That is why, the incidence of death is also very high. We really need massive population control measures. I think, that is some thing which is really lacking now.

I come to my last point. Climate change is an external factor which is influencing the entire climate pattern of the country, not just the country but the world also. Therefore, natural disasters unknown to us so far will happen in the next few years. We are seeing now rains in areas where it never rained. It snowed in UAE. Therefore, this climate change is a component which should also be taken into consideration while dealing with the natural calamity.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Our last speaker is Dr. K.S. Manoj. Only three minutes please.

DR. K.S. MANOJ (ALLEPPEY): Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, I come from a place which has been affected by Tsunami. Arattupuza Panchayat of Alapuza district in Kerala is very severely affected in Tsunami.

Sir, tsunami is a rare phenomenon, occasional phenomenon. But along the sea coast of Kerala, sea erosion due to high tide waves during the monsoon season is very common. A lot of houses were lost and also the properties were lost in this sea erosion. But definitive measures are not taken to safeguard the lives and properties of these poor fishermen who reside along the sea coast.

Sir, the sea coast of Kerala, unlike the sea coast of Andhra Pradesh or some other States, is very densely populated. Some of my colleagues have already pointed this out. There are narrow strips of lands between sea coast and backwaters. In this area, there is no transport facility. In Arattupuza and Alapatt panchayats, many deaths occurred due to lack of transport facilities. Around this 14 kilometres narrow stretch between the lake and the sea, not even a single bridge is there. They were in a hurry and we cannot save their lives. The people residing along the sea coast should be protected. The tragic thing is that sea erosion which takes the life of thousands of people is not considered as a natural calamity.

We are neither getting funds from the Calamity Relief Fuind nor from the Natural Calamity Contingency Fund. My humble request to the hon. Home Minister is that sea erosion should be considered as a natural calamity and assistance should be given to the people who are affected.

The coastal line of Kerala, as I mentioned earlier, should be protected. As far as we are concerned, sea wall has got some amount of protection. All these deaths occurred in area where sea wall was deficient. Either you consider construction of sea wall or as has been mentioned by my colleagues, growing of mangroves, which can be tried.

Sir, due to the paucity of time, I conclude my speech now but please allow me to lay the rest of my speech.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: No. The House stands adjourned to meet tomorrow, the 24th March, 2005 at 11.00 a.m. 20.30 hrs. The Lok Sabha then adjourned till Eleven of the Clock on Thursday, March 24, 2005/Chaitra 3, 1927 (Saka).