Tsunami thoughts

8226; Apropos of the report, 8216;26 countries alerted in 15 minutes, India no...

8226; Apropos of the report, 8216;26 countries alerted in 15 minutes, India not one of them8217; IE, Dec 28, an US official Charles McCreery, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric administration8217;s centre in Honolulu, said they did not have contacts in their address book of anybody in this part of the world to warn them about the destructive waves. They issued a bulletin about the quake but it only went to Australia and Indonesia, countries that subscribe. Well if US wanted it could have warned the Indian embassy. Colin Powell called the Indian foreign minister to offer his condolences and he had a phone number. I can bet if the US discovers Osama near the Indian border, they will be able to find dozens of phone numbers on time!

8212;Rajiv Datta On e-mail

A prediction

8226; India, as is its wont, has started evaluating systems and hardware to 8220;predict8221; the tsunami. In procurement, distortions which be introduced and the hardware will be costliest available, with obsolescence thrown in free. It will also be under a directorate of tsunami Predictions headed by procedure proficient bureaucrat, preferably retired, and importantly based at New Delhi. This system will work well if the tsunami follows GOI working hours and holiday lists for striking.

8212; Vasudeva Nair Mumbai

Political antics

8226; While watching TV reports on the tsunami tragedy, I was shocked to see politicians posing for media photographs while the whole world world was in shock and grief. There is no use of various ministers of state meeting central ministers and 8220;explaining the extent of damage and the current situation8221;. What is the use in politicians visiting affected areas in helicopters when everything is over? Politics!

8212;S. Sanjay Chennai

First things first

8226; The first thing that the government must do is to establish communication lines for remote villages using am-way radios. We need to ensure that hope in lives of people alive does not die. Rations should be given to the needy for at least three months. India has a lot of foodgrain buffer stocks. This is the time to use them.

8212;Prakash Kapila Syracuse

No money

8226; Our politicians in power have more than enough money to splurge on anything related to vote politics, but not for a project like the tsunami early warning system which could have saved thousands of lives.

8212;Ashok Dhamija Mumbai

Nuclear and clueless

8226; It is shocking that we are a nuclear country and spent crores for the destruction of human beings but are unable to spend money to save lives. A world expert, Tad Murty, had requested the Indian government several times to use his 24-hour tsunami warning system which could have saved thousands.

8212;Bidyut K. Chatterjee Faridabad

Officer on duty

8226; At least one Class I officer in critical departments should be available at office on a 24215;7 basis, if our dream to become a superpower is to come true.

8212;R. Saravanan Pondicherry