A WEEK has passed since floods were triggered by Cyclone Michaung, yet specific localities in Chennai and its neighbouring districts are struggling to return to normalcy. Most people living in apartments and middle-class localities returned to work a day or two after the floods. But slum-dwellers and those living in slum resettlement colonies are worst affected.

Youth organisations, civil society groups, fan clubs and political parties mobilised funds to provide ration in some of the affected localities. They provided dry ration, clean water, medical supplies and toiletries. However, these are not enough for the poor affected by the floods to resume work as most of their belongings were drenched.

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) drained out rainwater using suction lorries in places where houses were inundated. Garbage was removed from water channels and water bodies to clear out clogging and ensure smooth flow of water. Sanitation workers were deployed from other districts to remove garbage on the streets.

Yet there are complains that these measures were restricted to the middle-class and upper-middle class localities with the urban poor still struggling to recover from the floods.

Michaung reached peak intensity on December 4 as it approached the Tamil Nadu coast and moved northwards along the coast making a landfall after Nellore, in Andhra Pradesh, next day. By December 6, the rains had receded and the sun was out, but it was a disaster for many families.

As soon as the rains receded, SOS messages flooded social media platforms with calls for relief. Urgent calls for dry ration in slum settlements, cooked food and clean water were forwarded on these platforms and groups.

Tamil Nadu Science Forum, South Chennai, mobilised funds to provide relief material worth Rs 500 each for 1,500 families in Velachery, Sholinganallur, Pallikaranai and Tambaran. The kits included food items, clean water, hygiene products and basic medical supplies.

In Yamuna Nagar, Nazarathpet and Poondhamalli, in Tiruvallur district, where 250 families reside, waist-deep stagnant water is still on the road.

SLUMS, RESETTLEMENT COLONIES WORST AFFECTED
Bharanidharan, an activist of the Democratic Youth Federation of India, said, “We have been doing relief work in Kannagi Nagar, Perumbakkam, Kallukuttai and Chemmenchery for more than a week. The slum settlements and slum-resettlement colonies are the worst affected along the OMR. Although flood water has receded, they have still not resumed normal life.”

Old Mahabalipuram Road, south Chennai, or the IT expressway, houses resettlement colonies of slums from Chennai city.

“We provided dry ration, like one to two kgs of rice and dal to each family. It would last them for a few days. But only after they receive the government provided flood-assistance, they can recover. Although the money is not sufficient, it would help restart life. They have lost their bare essentials, furniture and electronics like mixer, grinder and TV,” Bharanidharan said.

The state government announced Rs 6,000 assistance for every family with a ration card.

SANITATION WORK ON WARFOOTING
Sanitation workers were deployed from other districts, like Coimbatore, to do post-flood sanitation work in Chennai. Health activist Dandapani, who met the workers in Zone 14 of Chennai, said “Their contribution was immense. They removed tonnes of garbage in the city within a few days.”
Even construction workers, especially women, were hired through private firms for Rs 600 per day for sanitation work. “They had lost their livelihood over the past week. So, they took up sanitation work. Unfortunately, they had to do sanitation work. They will continue the work and remove the remaining garbage,” he added.

“The sanitation work has immensely contributed to contain the spread of diseases. The zonal health officer also said that there has been no specific outbreak of any disease following the flood. No vector-borne diseases were identified in the health camps, which are working round the clock. Only a week later, we would know if the floods caused any health hazard,” he said.

(Courtesy: Newsclick)