No lessons learnt even after the storm

KANDLA, June 15: If lack of co-operation between Kandla Port Trust and local administration led to the huge loss of life and property during...

KANDLA, June 15: If lack of co-operation between Kandla Port Trust and local administration led to the huge loss of life and property during last week8217;s cyclone, no one seems to have learnt the necessary lessons. For, while the country8217;s premier port cries for urgent restoration, the KPT and the local administration still seem to be stuck on the same questions. Who is responsible for not paying heed to the signal? Who should be responsible for illegal labourers? What is the status of the salt workers?

Both seem to be spending a lot of time lately on meetings, press notes and statements in justifying their past actions and taking credit for the present one. The facade of cooperation and co-ordination seems to break away completely when both try and claim the credit for the work done, be it recovering dead bodies, distributing free food or clearing up the roads and the highways.

Both seem to be complaining of lack of infrastructure. 8220;Do we have the same infrastructure as the state machinery? We are just managers of the KPT and not owners of the entire area,8221; said A M N Kishore, KPT Chairman. According to him, the area under KPT was 324 square kilometre, bigger than Holland.

On the other hand, the district administration feels that it is the only area in the country which does not have any form of government, with the KPT running it like a jagir. And in terms of infrastructure, like those heavy areas and dredgers, who could have more than the KPT? they ask.

More care has been taken to prepare extensive reports on the minutes of the meeting called by the Collector a day before the cyclone, rather than surveying the houses and the hutments, or paying the victims the promised compensation. The KPT is also lately gearing up its public relations to highlight its work.

But the comments from ordinary people are telling: 8220;Yes I have seen jeeps with KPT banners, but they do not seem to be doing much work. It seems more like a show-piece,8221; said one of the affected Servo colony residents, who has decided to stay on.

The government reputation is hardly any better: 8220;We are only given free food by voluntary agencies. We have received no money, no food at nominal price as promised by the government8221;, said another labourer.

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It is not that the work done is any way condemnable: after all, the much-feared epidemic seems to be nowhere in sight and the first Vadinar terminal was commissioned yesterday with pumping of crude oil. All top officials seem to be on their toes. But what spoils the great effort is the petty bickering, raising a new stink after the dead bodies have long been burnt.