HYDERABAD: It has been over seven years since the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was established and five years since the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was set up. But the Andhra Pradesh government neither has a disaster management plan in place nor adequate resources to tackle the floods/cyclones in the State. And if experts are to be believed, the State is in dire need of a disaster management plan to avoid the wrath of the nature as seen in Jammu and Kashmir and particularly in the wake of unrelenting efforts to construct the Polavaram project. Here is a close look into the cyclone/flood preparedness of Andhra Pradesh:
WHEN DISASTERS OCCUR:
Cyclones generally occur during April/May and September to December in Andhra Pradesh, while floods occur during July to September. The worst cyclonic disaster in the State occurred in November 1977 in the form of the Diviseema tragedy in Krishna district with the official estimated loss of more than 10,000 lives.
NO CONCRETE ACTION
During the 2005-06 floods, then Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy in united Andhra Pradesh asked officials of the two Godavari districts, Khammam and other flood-affected areas to draw up a master plan making provision for 25 per cent more floods and undertake works on a permanent basis. The irrigation officials were asked to increase the capacity of drains in the delta, upland and lanka areas for free flow of floodwater. “But it was never executed in a full-fledged manner except for eyewash measures,” said an official in the irrigation department on the condition of anonymity.
CAG REPORT IN 2013
A report published by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in 2013, revealed that there were 20 incidents of cyclones or floods causing a financial loss of `44,765.27 crore in the State since 2003. This included the cost of damage of 17.52 lakh houses and 50.74 lakh hectares of crops. The loss of human lives in the last 10 years due to cyclones or floods was over 1,000.
The worst tragedy of the decade was of course in 2006 where over 150 persons died, including about 100 people in the floods during August-September of the year. CAG has found that despite repeated human and property losses due to cyclones/floods, the State government is not yet fully prepared to face any such eventuality in the future. The flood levels at Dowleswaram barrage crossed 22.8 feet.
WORST AFFECTED AREAS IN GODAVARI DISTRICTS:
P Gannavaram, Malikipuram, Rajole, Allavaram, Mummidivaram, Ainavilli, Kothapeta, Sakinetipalli, I Polavaram, and Alamuru mandals in East Godavari district, are worst affected areas during floods/cyclones. Similarly, the mandals of Narsapuram, Mogalthuru, Polavaram, Kovvuru, Nidadavolu, Tadepalligudem, Tallapudi and Achanta bear the brunt of floods/cyclones in West Godavari district every year.
LACK OF PREPAREDNESS
There is lack of monitoring and control system at the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) level in Andhra Pradesh, according to a Central government report released last year. Except for East Godavari and Nellore districts, none of the Coastal Andhra districts which are worst affected due to floods and cyclones have adequate plans to tackle recurring floods/cyclones.
Surprisingly, the CAG report found that there was a shortfall of 65 per cent in the meetings of District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) as against the mandatory meetings every quarterly in several districts of Andhra Pradesh between 2008-13. This apart, the financial management for disaster preparedness was deficient, with several cases of non-provision of funds in time, non-utilisation/delayed utilisation and irregular diversion of State Disaster Response Funds (SDRFs).
NO PLANS AND NO BOATS
With a 972-km-long coastline, Andhra Pradesh is vulnerable to major natural disasters like cyclones, floods, earthquakes and droughts, as well as man-made disasters like industrial/chemical hazards. But the state has no functional shore stations or early warning systems at the district level. Most of the communication equipment (HAM radio, VHF sets and satellite phones) in these districts were not in working condition.
The District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) in many coastal districts have not procured cyclone kits. Shelters meant for accommodating flood/cyclone victims are not properly maintained. For instance, 74 of 144 cyclone shelters in East Godavari district are in a dilapadated condition and required fresh demolition, while another 50 shelters are in dire need of repairs for which no funds were provided by the government. Rescue boats with the Fisheries department are either in need of repairs or replacement and no funds were provided in the last five years for procuring new ones.
RESCUE OPERATIONS
Due to lack of proper disaster management plan and adequate equipment, the district administrations seek the help of the NDRF teams and the Navy personnel apart from temporarily employing expert swimmers and mechanised boats belonging to the private persons in fishing community to reach out the victims. The district collectors use their magisterial powers to procure required essential commodities from the local vendors as and when the disasters occur.
POLAVARAM - A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN
Experts warn that any tragedies like that in Jammu and Kashmir under the current circumstances or after construction of Polvaram project, would cause devastation beyond imagination. They stress the need for a complete disaster management plan to be kept in place with exclusive manpower and other equipment like cyclone shelters and boats for speedy rescue and relief operations.
Experts like professor T Shivaji Rao who is the director for the Center for Environmental Studies at GITAM University have time and again warned that due to the faulty design of the Polavaram project, a destruction beyond imagination could occur at anytime and the State government is not prepared for the same.
WHAT IS REQUIRED?
Annual District Disaster Management Plans should be prepared and consolidated in time. Early Warning Systems (EWS) for cyclones should be maintained properly and inspected periodically. Further, communication equipment and adequate quantity of cyclone kits should be in the districts for rescue operations during disasters. Required equipment like boats and lifeguards apart from permanent employing expert swimmers and rescue personnel.