12/8/2015 Reconsider building hospital on Yamuna floodplain: activist ­ The Hindu

NATIONAL » OTHER STATES

Published: December 8, 2015 00:00 IST | Updated: December 8, 2015 05:47 IST ​ NEW DELHI, December 8, 2015 Reconsider building hospital on Yamuna floodplain: activist

Akanksha Jain

The Parmanand Blind Relief Hospital is coming up on the Yamuna floodplain near Nigambodh ghat.photo: special arrangement

: Environmental activist Manoj Misra has written to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal requesting them to reconsider the construction of a blind relief hospital on the Yamuna floodplains in Nigambodh ghat area of Yamuna Bazaar.

Citing example of the recent floods in Chennai, where many patients died due to logistical complications from flooding, Mr. Misra wrote that Delhi must ensure that no public utility, especially a hospital, is constructed in an area prone to flooding. “…construction in the active floodplain, of Parmanand Blind Relief Hospital, has been permitted by the DDA. We wonder if any environmental impact assessment or environmental clearance of the project has been taken?” the letter said. Mr. Misra added that the area where the hospital is coming up is inundated during normal floods, and a major flood could prove catastrophic.

“We believe this to be an example of a highly irresponsible land­use permission given by the DDA and we request that this dangerous development be urgently reviewed and the concerned developer be allotted suitable alternate piece of land at a safe location in the city. …the Nigambodh ghat area is in urgent need of a "redevelopment plan" with its ecological, religious and mythological values kept intact,” said the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan activist.

Printable version | Dec 8, 2015 3:54:01 PM | http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other­states/reconsider­building­hospital­on­ yamuna­floodplain­activist/article7959417.ece

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http://epaper.thestatesman.com/c/7540058?show=print 1/1 12/8/2015 Chennai floods aftermath: Displaced families count their losses ­ The Hindu

CITIES » CHENNAI

Published: December 8, 2015 00:03 IST | Updated: December 8, 2015 09:42 IST ​ CHENNAI, December 8, 2015

NOW, STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL IN CHENNAI Displaced families count their losses

Ramya Kannan

The Hindu Women line up for food distributed by a private organisation in Kotturpuram, Chennai on Monday, as scenes of devastation are seen all around them. Photo: Shaju John Situation is ripe for an epidemic, health experts sound warning.

The waters have receded as of now, and people are slowly attempting to return to what is left of their homes in most areas of Chennai. If the skies hold, and further flooding does not occur, then it may be safely assumed that the city has reached the ‘post­impact’ phase of the disaster.

In a flood scenario like this, a key characteristic of this phase is the looming spectre of epidemics and the larger question of sustaining relief and rehabilitation work.

Piles of garbage

Piles of garbage have been swept up by the flood waters, sewage has entered the homes and where the flood waters have not yet receded, there is an unbearable stench. In some areas, people have spotted carcasses floating by, and rodents and snakes run riot in abandoned homes. The situation is ripe for an epidemic, if the State is not prepared, public health experts have warned.

>> 400 more health camps set up

As it is, families are trying to cope with the stress of displacement, and in some cases, with the injuries caused during the floods. A number of people suffered falls, bites, allergies, skin ailments, and electrocution. The poor hygiene and sanitation situation comes as an extra challenge at this stage, even as distribution of relief remains an issue that needs to be addressed simultaneously.

“So far, we have no large­scale incidence of fever and diarrhoea, two conditions that we are expecting at this stage,” explains a senior health department official, not ruling out isolated bursts of disease because of contamination of local water sources. The proven protocol in such circumstances is a combination of surveillance and prevention activities, watching out for the outbreak of diseases and ensuring that the factors that contribute to it are removed.

Click here for full coverage of the Chennai floods

Printable version | Dec 8, 2015 4:00:19 PM | http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chennai­floods­aftermath­displaced­families­ count­their­losses/article7958695.ece

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http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chennai­floods­aftermath­displaced­families­count­their­losses/article7958695.ece?css=print 1/1 THE TIMES OF INDIA, NEW DELHI 14 TIMES NATION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2015 Battered Chennai rises from rubble Another year of TOI dal crisis looms, Cops shield relief trucks TN govt let 30,000 cops govt takes stock from goons, ‘sticker’ mobs sit idle while CONSUMPTION & PRODUCTION TEAM TOI Jaya announces flood relief package city sank Annual domestic Chennai: Flood-ravaged ays after DMK chief Karunanidhi criticised her over flood requirement Chennai’s spirits rose with Dassistance, Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday TEAM TOI of pulses | the sun on Monday as flights announced a comprehensive relief package for the flood-hit, Approx 22-23 MTs took off, trains chugged on including 10,000 houses, a dole between Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 as well Chennai: Experts call it the and people got back to work. as compensation for loss of crops and poultry for farmers. A financial single biggest blunder by the Domestic production As water receded from many assistance of Rs 10,000 for those who lost their huts, allocation of Tamil Nadu government, declined from 19.3 10,000 tenements besides an aid of Rs 5,000 will be provided to which is battling the Chennai MT in 2013-14 to areas, the challenges became MP families hit by the deluge, she said.“For families who lost their huts, a floods. Much of the 1.15 lakh- 17.2 MT in 2014-15, clearer — of homeless thou- 26 Rest flood relief of Rs 10,000, ten kilo rice, a dhoti and saree will be given,” strong police force remained likely to increase Share of sands, the spectre of an epi- 27 demic, the urgency to rebuild she said. Also, for such families, permanent houses will be provided, it largely idle over the past fort- marginally in 2015-16 AP domestic Rajasthan infrastructure, and rein in said. “Immediately, 10,000 tenements will be allotted in Chennai,” she night, as the government did 6 production the bands of Amma support- said. For other families hit by the floods, cash assistance of Rs 5,000, not follow the procedures to Import has Karnataka 13 ten kilo rice, a dhoti and a saree will be provided, she said. PTI mobilise police for rescue increased from 8 ers who try to brand the CM’s UP Maharashtra and relief operations. 3 MTs to 5 MTs name into relief supplies. 10 10 Life is crawling back to other organisations mobilis- of Karur, worried over vehi- While the 28,000-odd cops ➤ ➤ normal. Buses plied on Mon- ing relief for victims have an- cles being hijacked near in Chennai were engaged in Last year domestic arhar Production in Myanmar and day without charging com- other task on their hands — Chengalpet, was advised by regular law and order, crowd production was 20-22 lakh East Africa was far less tonnes against need ➤ muters. Power supply was re- arranging for police protec- IAS officer U Sagayam to send control and ‘VIP duty’, more Why Arhar production is of 32 lakh tonnes stored across the city but for a tion. Amid reports of goons Rs 4 lakh worth of material than 65% of the state force Arhar Myanmar & Africa is expected based in districts unaffected ➤ 80% of arhar is to increase marginally from 4 few patches where electrocu- and ruling partymen hijack- meant for Chennai to a school crisis tion remained a danger. Mo- ing relief material and in Cuddalore where hun- by rains was reduced to mere produced in India lakh tonnes to 5 lakh tonnes bile phones crackled back to branding it with Amma stick- dreds of affected people were spectators, a retired police of- life and people were talking ers, many in the central and housed. The Karur SP de- ficer, who has handled such [email protected] was more acute this year, par- long hours sharing woes and southern districts are asking puted two armed constables situations, told TOI. ticularly for arhar, as it was in exchanging hopes. Forty for cops to accompanytrucks. to protect the vehicle. When a calamity strikes, New Delhi: Preparing to tide short supply in the interna- flights took off from the city, The district administra- An AIADMK member, the state police control room over another year of shortage tional market. They deny and the airport promised to tions are obliging by depu- however, said there was no in- is instantly activated, and a of pulses, particularly arhar there was much hoarding. be back to full-fledged oper- ting two armed reserve police struction from the party lead- circular is issued to all dis- dal that triggered a crisis, pri- However, officials did not ation by Tuesday. personnel per vehicle. ership to paste the CM’s pho- vate importers have in- buy this since prices of all But volunteers, NGOs and Retired DSP M Vellingiri tos on relief material. RIVER CHENNAI: The flood of the century turned out a great leveller WHAT A WASTE formed government of their pulses, including chana dal intention to import nearly 5.5 and masoor, increased sig- trict police chiefs to rush a million tonnes (MTs) of puls- nificantly. “The prices start- certain number of personnel es next year in comparison to ed shooting simultaneously. Potatoes to the affected region. During about 4.5 MTs in 2015. So, to prevent such a situa- Doctors’ network feels Chennai’s a calamity of this size, each The government will also tion again, we have to import district could have easily sent increase import besides car- to create some stock and fix going for about 1,000 personnel. rying out direct procurement the stock limits,” said a gov- “By not following this pro- from farmers to create stock. ernment official. `100 a kilo pulse, reaches out to cut-off areas tocol, the government wasted Sources said private im- Sources said that govern- the services of 30,000 cops porters shared their prepa- ment has to prepare for TEAM TOI TEAM TOI are consuming random med- whose presence would have redness with government at shortage of arhar consider- ication available at home. brought about order and con- a meeting held in commerce ing that India produces 80% Chennai: Heavy rain and Chennai: Gowri Shankar, “People should not blindly fidence in affected areas,” he ministry on Wednesday. In- of arhar. While the demand flooding in the city has affect- fondly known as ‘military follow tips doled out on so- said. Notably, neither the DGP dia is the largest importer of was 35 lakh tonnes in 2015, ed supply and pushed up pric- uncle’, has been sick for the cial media platforms as it nor the police commissioner pulses because of deficient domestic production was on- es of meat and some vegeta- past one week, and residents may result in serious conse- was present at a press meet production back home. The ly 20 lakh tonnes and around bles, with potatoes retailing of his apartment complex at quences. Randomly con- clled by the chief secretary. demand supply gap is 3-5 3.5 lakh tonnes was imported for Rs 100/kg in some parts of Tambaram, one of the suming medication can have Tamil Nadu police have a MTs and the trend is likely to by private players. Next year, the city on Monday. worst-affected areas, are un- serious side-effects which well-equipped ready-to-use continue in 2015-16 though domestic production may in- Worse, it appeared that able to help the 73-year-old may be more complicated to master control room. A fleet domestic production may in- crease marginally to 21 lakh some retailers or wholesalers procure his daily blood pres- treat than the infection it- of vehicles, drivers, divers, crease marginally. tonnes and import would be they purchase groceries from sure medication. This is not self,” said director of public ration and diesel is also kept Traders insist the crisis around 4.5 lakh tonnes. were making a killing, with res- an isolated story. health Dr K Kolandaisamy, ready. Most of these facilities idents reporting that prices It is to provide treatment adding, “In the current sit- were idle during the floods were uneven across the city. Po- to such patients that many uation, people should be and rescue operations. Not tatoes were available for Rs 70/ doctors, including diabetol- aware of the consequences many knew of a food control kg in Alwarpet but cost Rs 80/kg ogists, are forming a net- Flood affected people getting medical assistance at a medical camp of self-medication, and must room at the police HQ, so it is CBI raids PSU in Kodambakkam and Ashok work to help provide quality at Kotturpuram in Chennai on Monday consult doctors or health of- no surprise that it received Nagar, and anywhere between medical assistance to people ficials before arriving at a few calls during the crisis. that and Rs 100/kg in other in inaccessible areas. “Our line consultations. If one of said diabetologist Dr K conclusion.” He also re- Police officers in districts parts of the city. The rate of po- clinics are yet to see a crowd my patients is living in a par- Ponvannan. quested the public to contact told TOI that they had not re- chief in U’khand tatoes on online portals, howev- as many people are still ticular locality and a doctor Health experts are also the ‘104’ helpline for advice. ceived any order to move to- er, was Rs 28/kg. The wholesale stuck in their houses with- I know lives nearby, I request worried as people with An official from diagnos- wards the deluge-hit capital. rate is also around Rs 20/kg, out access to medical care. him to take a look at the pa- symptoms similar to those of tic laboratory chain Lister Confirming lack of coordina- said V R Soundararajan, advi- So, we doctors have formed tient and prescribe medi- the seasonal flu — like runny Metropolis said they were tion, an officer said, “I hardly housing scam sor to the Koyambedu Whole- teams and are sharing pa- cines. This method works nose, sneezing, coughing, seeing a surge in the number see senior police officers at sale Traders Association. tients and conducting on- as all of us are networking,” eye pain and sore throat — of people coming in for tests. rescue centres in the city.” Neeraj.Chauhan The CMD is accused @timesgroup.com of indulging in A LOOK AT INDIA’S TOP HASHTAGS, MOST FOLLOWED ACCOUNTS AND THE MOST RETWEETED POST ON TWITTER IN 2015 New Delhi: Cracking the corrupt practices whip on another public sec- with some private TWITTER TOP 10 ACCOUNTS tor undertaking, the Central companys for the TOPPERS OF #IPL | Nine million 18.1 MOST FOLLOWED Bureau of Investigation on tweets used the tag IN MILLION Sunday evening carried out work of a group 2015 over six weeks (April massive raids on Hindustan housing project in TOP 5 8 to May 24) of the 16.5 Steelworks Construction Dehradun, which was Limited (HSCL) offices, its HASHTAGS T20 tournament’s 8th given to HSCL by season #Selfie- chairman-cum-managing director Moyukh Bhaduri, Mussoorie-Dehradun WithDaughter | Over 16.4 1 3.75 lakh fathers other officials of the PSU, Development clicked selfies with and premises of a private company for alleged corrup- Authority their daughters, TOP TWEET tion in a group housing pro- had given the contract for a Bollywood biggie Shah Rukh posting the pictures Amitabh Bachchan @SrBachchan ject in Uttarakhand. group housing project to Khan’s selfie with former One- to Twitter under this CBI sources said several HSCL in which some private Shah Rukh Khan 15.5 Direction-er Zayn Malik. “This kid is so 2 tag. The campaign was @iamsrk teams swung into action and company was favoured lead- cool. May Allah bless him. Dinner time started by a Haryana Narendra Modi carried out searches in Delhi, ing to losses. CBI officials re- at the Asian Awards,” Khan posted. The sarpanch @narendramodi Haryana, Uttarakhand, West fused to divulge more details stars got nearly 1.42 lakh retweets Of Aamir Khan Bengal and Uttar Pradesh in- on the contract, its worth the top @Aamir_Khan cluding HSCL’s head office in and which private company 10 most 15 Hastings, Kolkata and Bhadu- and other officials of HSCL followed Salman Khan ri’s premises and recovered in- were involved in the process. #BiharResults 3 Indian @BeingSalman Khan criminating documents. Despite repeated at- The day of the accounts, According to the sources, tempts, Bhaduri and other se- election results only one – Deepika Padukone the CMD is accused of indulg- nior officials of HSCL could (Nov 8) saw Narendra Modi @deepikapadukone ing in corrupt practices with not be contacted for their 2.6 lakh tweets 12.3 4 - is non- Hrithik Roshan some private company(s) for comments but senior officials under the Bollywood @iHrithik the work of a group housing at the PSU confirmed that CBI tag #SaalEk- Priyanka Chopra project in Dehradun, which teams had carried out raids at ShuruatAnek @priyankachopra was given to HSCL by Mus- CMD’s premises and compa- 5 Akshay Kumar soorie-Dehradun Develop- ny offices. Bhaduri was ap- @akshaykumar 11.9 The Modi A R Rahman #DDLJ20Years @arrahman ment Authority (MDDA). pointed CMD of HSCL on 2015 was the 20th government’s first CBI sources said that April 2013 for a period of five anniversary of Yash Raj year anniversary in HSCL, being a government years. Before becoming the Films’ romantic classic May had over 1.79 undertaking, is given con- director, he was posted as di- Dilwale Dulhaniya Le lakh tweets with 11.8 sultancy projects for central rector (finance) there. Jayenge. 1.4 lakh tweets this tag and state government pro- It was not known till Mon- acknowledged the same 10.6 jects for infrastructure, steel day evening if any arrests with 9.5 plants, thermal and hydel had been made or enquiry this tag power plants and other civil was initiated on a complaint engineering works. given by CVC or it was CBI’s Source: Twitter Sources said that MDDA independent operation. Mountain of rotting wheat to go dirt cheap [email protected] nure dumping fetches only responsible for wheat wast- 10% of the MSP. age. Money lost by the state Bathinda: Two procure- In November, TOI had government should be reco- ment agencies of Punjab highlighted how wheat vered from the persons re- have started the process of stacked in the open plinths sponsible for it,” said Narain disposing damaged wheat near Rampura and Talwandi Dutt, president of Inquilabi stacked in the open on Sabo in Bathinda was rotting Kendra Punjab. Bharatiya plinths across the state. Pun- and foul smell emanating Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) jab Agro Foodgrains Corpo- from it was causing problems general secretary Sukhdev ration (PAFC) and Markfed to people living nearby. Now, Singh Kokri said wheat have already floated tenders PAFC has floated tenders to should have been distributed for auction of 1.93 lakh auction 1.46 lakh tonne wheat among poor before it was al- tonnes of the foodgrain, for the 2008-09 to 2012-13 peri- lowed to rot. which is not fit for human od. Tenders will be opened on PAFC managing director consumption. December 22. Markfed has Kahan Singh Pannu told This wheat was procured floated tenders to auction TOI, “As the wheat is dam- during 2009-10 to 2012-13. Mar- 46,597 tonnes and the bids will aged to the extent that it is not ket value of the stock to be dis- be opened on December 14. fit for human consumption, posed of as per current mini- “Wheat is being allowed we got permission from the mum support price works out to rot, causing huge losses to Union government to auc- to be Rs 294 crore, but it is ex- state exchequer due to ab- tion it. The state government pected to fetch less than one- These sacks of wheat have been dumped in the open for six years sence of scientific storage fa- will look into fixing respon- third of the amount. cilities. Every year during sibility to recover the losses. The MSP for 2008-09 was in 2011-12 Rs 1,120 and in 2012- is only fit for industrial use harvesting time, problem of The rotten wheat is expected Rs 1,000 per quintal, in 2009- 13 Rs 1,285. Sources said most or manure dumping. Wheat storage crops up. Apart from to be sold at nearly one-third 10 Rs 1,080, in 2010-11 Rs 1,100, of the wheat to be disposed of under the category of ma- that laxity of officials is also of the current MSP.” 12/8/2015 , :DigitalEdition

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