Nature’s fury is not within > man’s control (Oct. 15). Yet, learning a thing or two from past episodes, the State government did take precautionary measures right from the moment a red alert was sounded. Though mortality has been low, the destruction caused is massive. Let us remember that Hiroshima and Nagasaki were rebuilt after being razed to the ground by atom bombs and that Japan is a vibrant country today despite facing perennial threats from volcanoes, earthquakes and cyclones. Through public-private participation, India too can meet the challenges of nature and march ahead.
K.D. Viswanaathan,
Coimbatore
As India’s second largest port by volume of cargo handled on the eastern coast, Visakhapatnam needs to think ahead in facing potential disasters. Hudhud has left behind a trail of destruction; it has also highlighted many grey areas that need special and immediate attention. Vizag is a low-lying city and this must be taken into account while planning to rebuild it. The unique topography of the port city — with its hills — was thought to give natural protection against storms, but Hudhud has shown this to be untrue. Planners must now look at restoring the city’s green cover and focus on tree species that can withstand natural fury.
R. Sampath,
Chennai
From the floods in Uttarakhand, Kashmir, the northeast and now the cyclone in South India, the effects of climate change are evident. Planners in India need to pay close attention to its impact on low-lying areas and factor this into development plans.
Urvashi Yadav,
New Delhi
It will definitely be a huge challenge to restore the infrastructure of the garden city which will demand large-scale deployment of labour and funds. The cyclone shows that disaster management efforts need to be honed.
Kanishka Pathak,
Dhanbad, Jharkhand
As the east coast of India is vulnerable to cyclones, long-term measures need to be taken from the environmental point of view. Climate change is leading to an increase in the number of cyclones. For that, mangroves that were cleared to facilitate prawn farms need to be restored. Green shelter beds will always mitigate the impact of a cyclone.
Praveen Nalluri,
Vijayawada
Though man is said to have infinite faculties, all his powers pale into insignificance when he encounters the calamities of Nature. Restoring infrastructure facilities and even the steel plant will prove to be a huge challenge. The Chandrababu Naidu government must work in tandem with the Centre to revive the cyclone-hit city. “What though the field be lost, all is not lost,” should be the slogan.
Meenakshi Pattabiraman,
Madurai
India is surrounded on three sides by water and will be subject to nature’s fury periodically. The urgent need in the aftermath of Hudhud is to ensure the supply of power, potable water, milk and other essential commodities. The authorities should rein in any attempt at profiteering.
Shajimon Purushothaman,
Cherthala, Kerala
Yesterday it was Srinagar. Today it is Visakhapatnam. And it’s the same tendency everywhere — opportunism when calamity strikes. Profiteers must be stopped and punished under the Preventive Detention Act. The government alone cannot go about the task of rebuilding the city. The need is for the creation of a force that assists people in a calamity; retired people must be at its helm. The supply of essential items must be channelled through civil defence personnel and distribution made against a digitally supported document such as Aadhar.
Y. Penchala Reddy,
Hyderabad
