Editorial
Delay in repairing Aila-affected embankments
It's proving costly, make amends as quickly as possible
THE prime minister's displeasure over the delay in the repair of embankments damaged by cyclone Aila ten months after the disaster is surely understandable. With all the time that has gone by and with the monsoon season approaching, it is only natural to ask, on the part of the head of government as indeed of any citizen, why a matter that ought to have been handled on a priority basis should have been tackled in such laid-back fashion. The officials entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the repair of the flood protection embankments in the Aila-affected regions would have everyone know that the delay was caused by their 'scrupulous' compliance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Regulations (PPR). That logic holds little water, for the reality is that the PPR was relaxed for the very reason of facilitating the rebuilding and repair of the embankments. It is extremely unfortunate that now all sorts of excuses are being put up to explain a failure which can only prolong and worsen the miseries of those affected by the cyclone.
The plain fact of the embankment story is that about 60 per cent of the breaches had been repaired. That would sound like a success story to some. The reality, though, is that unless all embankments are repaired in totality, there is hardly any point in suggesting that everything is working out fine. Moreover, of late quite a few new breaches have developed along the embankments. That can only mean a further aggravation of conditions. And with the rains on the way, it is now the lives of the affected families that are now in a bad spot. Of course, the authorities have been providing all Aila-affected families with rice and other necessities. But as long as they do not have the roofs over their heads restored, we cannot be certain that the situation has gone back to normal.
It is clear that that the very bureaucratic approach which should have been avoided over such a sensitive issue has now endangered the future of those who have been waiting for a solution to their problems. The officials now coming up with explanations behind the delay in completing the embankment repair work should have foreseen the problems earlier and gone to work accordingly. Ten months is a long time to build or repair embankments. If that is the pace of work on such an urgent matter of public concern, one can only imagine the length of time that will possibly go into handling subjects of greater import.
It appears that the posibility of the embankments being repaired before the onset of the monsoon is rather bleak with full moon and high tide in prospect. That is a depressing thought. Even so, now that the prime minister has expressed herself on the subject, we expect the authorities to redouble their efforts toward making it possible for Aila victims to resume their lives in full protection from nature's fury.
Meanwhile, focus must be placed on finding alternative living arrangements for those whose homes are yet to be rebuilt. For thousands of people to live under the open sky and for the concerned authorities to take the issue lightly any more would be a shame.
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