NDRF submits report on Gaja damage to govt

The 80-page report, tabulated by the NDRF and the State Disaster Management authorities, on cyclone Gaja and its impact on TN, had also submitted the lesson learnt and the recommendations for other government agencies and stake holders affected during the natural disasters.

The detailed report also showcases the preventives measures taken up by the state, Centre and the grey areas that must be strengthened.

Further strengthening of the TNSDRF, fire services, trained team of community volunteers including women, list of geographical coordinates of identified rescue and relief points were the recommendations in the report.The detailed report also suggested alternate livelihood for the public in coastal areas as Gaja affected both fishermen and farmers.

The report also suggested cyclone resistant buildings and multi-purpose cyclone shelters as the need of the hour for all coastal districts. Promoting solar systems for ensuring emergency electricity supply and updation of resource inventory on India Disaster Resource Network (IDRN) and the provision for underground cabling in coastal areas were other recommendations.

According to the report, the estimated damage to Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (Tangedco) in Cyclone Gaja was Rs 1,054.11 crore. The colossal damage caused to the power infrastructure required a massive mobilisation of men and materials for restoration from within the state as well as from outside the state.

The operations were carried out round the clock in spite of the risks involved by pressing into service 28,644 men and a large technical force. Workers from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala were mobilised for the restoration operations. Moreover, adopting the principle of build back better, the lines in the fields have been shifted to the road side to make regular repairs and restoration much easier in future, the report explained.

The highest level of preparedness and monitoring mechanism, vulnerability mapping and analysis, animal shelters are some of the best practices followed in Tamil Nadu for management of Gaja cyclone, said Commissioner of Revenue Administration and Disaster Management J Radhakrishnan.