6 YEARS IS TOO LONG A WAIT After 6 long years of wait, and generous spending, tsunami relief, rehabilitation and rebuilding is a story of neglect for the residents of rural South Andaman.
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By Debkumar Bhadra, Shore Point, Bambooflat, S Andaman, 744107, email : debkumar_bhadra@yahoo.com
ore than six years back, on December 26th 2004 the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, along with the rest of the world were hit by a massive undersea earthquake which incidentally shifted the islands towards south-west by about 1.25m. The tsunami that followed the mega-quake devastated the islands washing away almost anything to everything coming its way. Remote sensing and visual inspection of islands shoreline confirm uplift of Andaman group and subsistence of Nicobar group. The effects include submergence of land, destruction of property and loss of numerous lives. The Govt of India and few NGO’s responded to the crisis situation helping survivors overcome trauma inflicted by the epic disaster. But after 6 long years of generous spending on tsunami relief, rehabilitation and rebuilding, the survivors from rural South Andaman find themselves subjected to official apathy and pushed under the development shadow. The quake triggered tsunami caused ingress of sea water from Kadakachang creek flooding large tracts of agricultural land at Kanyapuram, Stewart Gunj and Wimberly Gunj area. Farmers who lost their productive land had been demanding alternate land but after 6 years of wait, a press note published in The Daily Telegrams dated 18/07/2011 requesting the tsunami affected farmers to give their consent in writing as to the mode of compensation whether in cash or alternate land, created a paradox in the life of those affected by the epic disaster; their demand for apt compensation not only remains unheard and unfulfilled but stands shattered too! A small group reiterated their demand for alternate land and rejected accepting cash (in lieu of land). Others murmur it took 6 long years for the authorities to ask what the farmers want; when will the benefits be declared and disbursed is perhaps eternity. Those who are not in a mood to wait further are citing common sense to accept the instant offer, however indecent it may appear. Another glaring example of official apathy is the Kadakachang bridge and sluice gate that was left damaged by the epic disaster. Though a steel bridge was put in place to restore traffic, the base beneath the bridge slipped within months of its installation. But keeping in view the necessity, the bridge though unfit had been kept open, temporarily with small curtain walls on either side of the bridge so that traffic over the bridge could be restricted to pedestrians, two wheelers and light motor vehicles. A careful look near the bridge area during low tide, unfurled yet another disturbing tale. I was shocked to witness sea water flowing through the mud below the road connecting the RCC and steel bridge. This means during high tide, sea water flows beneath the road from sea to landward side and in the reverse direction during low tide. This is very dangerous because long term removal of mud supporting the road above could result in collapse of the entire stretch of road along with the Kadakachang Bridge and sluice gate all of a sudden!