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| Floods >> Extent of Disaster >> Suggestion | |
| Mumbai Flood Relief and
Rehabilitation Resource Centre in association with Times Foundation BMC Disaster Control: Phone: 1916 or 108 or 22694725 / 7 or Fax 22694719. Times Helpline: 56354376 / 45 timesfoundation@timesgroup.com www.timesfoundation.org |
|
| In the wake of the massive floods since
26 July in Mumbai and Maharashtra, a crisis of civic infrastructure and
public health has emerged in the city and state, in which the right of
citizens to information about their environments is of crucial public
importance. Very few citizens of India enjoy open access to maps, satellite imagery, and other geographic information. Collected and brokered by national mapping and space imaging agencies, this geo-data is an essential for understanding civic issues such as planning, housing, infrastructure. Open access to this information can provide a platform for public action, reducing costs and promoting innovation by facilitating citizens' engagement with their local environments and authorities. The Open Knowledge Foundation is hosting a forum at http://okfn.org/ geo/manifesto.php about Open Access to State-Collected Geo-Spatial Data. * All government-collected maps, geographic information and spatial data are public property, and should be open; that is, available for free distribution and re-use under a share-alike license. * Online mapping projects creating freely re-usable geo-data should offer a compatible open license. * Common, standard formats for describing and exchanging geo-data should be adopted internationally. * Ultimately, all state-collected information should be freely available in the public domain, in a structured machine-readable format and in an open standard. Please read the manifesto and, if you agree with the statements it contains, sign up to support it at http://okfn.org/geo/manifesto.php#signup For more information on the changing policies on maps and geo-data in India, see the 19 May 2005 release of the Press Information Bureau of the Government of India on http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=9388 _____ http://www.crit.org.in http://www.freemap.in http://www.mappinghacks.com _____ CRIT (Collective Research Initiatives Trust) Announcements List announcer@crit.org.in http://lists.crit.org.in/mailman/listinfo/announcer From: "Janak Daftari" <indepth@vsnl.com> August 25, 2005 |
| A few
thoughts about Mumbai from a common letter to my siblings - check me
if I am wrong
That brings me to Mumbai rains and to us being all above board therefore saved, it is difficult to believe those who had to suffer are all ‘not good beings’ – see I have a problem even to say for just hypothesis that they are ‘bad’! What happened in Mumbai is a construction of system, only the rains were natural. I am sure you all must have seen the state of ‘Mithi nadi’ which worse than the Jabli naalaa near Jyoti talkies (that also must be a river turned into a gutter). Basically as we were speaking Shim the other day there is a major lacuna in drainage system in city planning not to forget our very own Sahakar nagar and what Baba made you all go through about cleaning the naali always a day before your exams is I remember correct. Metros with ever increasing uneven construction need to have supplementary drainage system to vouch for. If the electricity had not come for another two hours Mumbai would have drowned in its own sewage. There are two types of drainage which is required, one for the top water and one for the sewage, a simplistic understanding. What I have understood in the past few days is that in high tide the drainage of sewage into and all other outlets to the ocean are closed and opened at low tide. Earlier when it used to rain heavily for days together – the top water used to accumulate in the low lying areas – wet lands of Mumbai, which have reduced due to encroachment, sorry concrete constructions by reclamation of these lands, obstructing the natural flow of top water and now the water has no where to go but occupy built up living areas. The sewage on the other hand needs to be pumped (the working is still not clear to me). During rains the top water tends to use the drainage system which is meant for sewage, there is sewage below and rain water on top. During this heavy rains the Powai dam water was also opened (there is no confirmation of this as compared to other dams being opened with evacuation taking place and at times no warning given to people as it happened in Panvel), and the water in Mumbai rose within half an hour ( a cumulative effect of no natural drainage for rain water, gates to ocean being closed due to high tide, overloaded sewage drains, dams opened and of course the rains), it was there through the day and night (almost thirty six hours) and it suddenly reduced after two hours of electricity being resumed. What happened was that with the electricity being started, the pumps which were taken care of worked overtime (after red alert at the sewage dumping/clearing area) to throw out the sewage and that brought down the level of water above ground. Thankfully no electrocution took place in that area. The electricity was not started in Kalina to avoid that, still there was at least one instance of a person being affected. Of course rain had stopped and gates to the ocean were opened at low tide and the overflowing dam water too receded due to space in drainage. One example of reclamation of land of ‘mithi nadi’ is for expansion of airport – incidentally there is money and technical know how to build a drainage tunnel below the airport but the Airport Authorities of India in Delhi could not care less for what happens in Maharashtra – I could presume it is a general process and/or two way relationship specially with Maharashtra of love-hate. Another example is that of the major Bandra Kurla complex – there is a beautiful American School made there. Bombay or the World submerging in water is not a spiritual or natural process but a well predicted result of human greed and exploitation of earth’s resources and good, bad ugly, rich and poor all get affected. Some people are made to feel they will get saved by migrating to ‘better’ (there is feasibility of better vibration due to more people centred concern in these ‘better’ places) places, those who can, do, and those who cannot become frustrated. We know (shob :) jaantaa) people migrate as they have spirit of gypsies. But there is no better or worse, we try to save the place we reside in, living in as much harmony as we can, along with all others around us. National Environment Enigineering Research
Institute, Mumbai had predicted this disaster ten years ago but the powers
to be did not pay attention. Bittu Sehgal (one of the few) who
continuously opposed the reclamation of land in Mumbai was bypassed and
another committee was formed to approve this change over. I do not per se
have objection for change but this change has to have space for all.
Mumbai is a place where the richest and the poorest (in terms of economics
and living), have survived so far. If slums are to be demolished then
accommodations for those living in the slums have to be planned. The slums
have been demolished just before the rains and then Mumbai was made to
survive without electricity and water for almost five days in continuity
and now there is an epidemic! |
| What Govt
and Citizens both must do for Mumbai Mumbaikars - Help Yourself before you drown Dear Mumbaikar, The flooding in Mumbai last Monday hit most Mumbaikar's much harder than any other calamity in the recent past. It also highlighted the complete ineffectiveness of the government in tackling even a minor calamity. Infact more than anything else it showed how badly the government has neglected the infrastructure of this city which is home to us and a source for raising revenue in return for neglect from Mantralaya & New-Delhi. Mumbaikars are India's biggest, most honest tax-paying community. Every year, they cough up Rs 58,000 crore as income tax. If you count the indirect taxes, the total figure would be much higher than what Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore together pay. This ought to give us the muscle to demand, not beg, from the Centre the funds required to make Mumbai world class. It's sad that Delhi, which pays less than half of what we pay, has got over Rs 6,000 crore for its makeover while we are expected to be content with Rs 50 crore. The rest of the money that goes from Mumbai vanishes into the dark holes of UP and Bihar, where vote banks need to be pampered. We try to look at some of the pressing problems Mumbai faces & what needs to be done: 1. Water logging during rains: What the Government should do: While every minister & bureaucrat will try to convince us that last Monday's rainfall was unprecedented the fact remains that the situation would have been much better if: * The Government had not allowed the encumbrance along the Mithi River. * The government had cared to build adequate storm water drains especially in the suburbs where no attention is paid to this aspect. * The BMC had bothered to clean the few storm-water drains that do exist. * The government had bothered to ask every building society to carry out ground water recharging by leaving a small portion of the compound unpaved so that much of the rainwater is absorbed in the ground leaving a smaller quantity of water on the roads. * Water harvesting was made compulsory for all buildings over a period of next 5 years. * Unauthorised encroachment on open public spaces had not been allowed. * The manhole covers had not been missing. * Traffic jams and people getting stuck in trains could easily have been avoided by a compulsory public awareness message to be carried by every TVchannel, Radio and SMS through all mobile operators asking office-goers to stay put in their offices & not venture out till the flooding receded. * Some of the staff from each police station, BMC wards office etc. had been trained to deal with eventualities such as Waterlogging, Earthquakes, Fires, Terrorist strikes, Communal violence, rioting etc. What the Citizens must do: * Citizens need to ensure ground water recharging by leaving a small patch unpaved along the compound wall of every society. * Install a water harvesting facility in every society. * Aggressively follow up for cleaning storm water drains * Protest vigorously whenever the government de-reserves any open space to oblige builders. 2. Slum-Proliferation This is the root cause of many other problems. Regularising slums has the effect of creating more slums since the message to people from all over the country is that you can come to Mumbai & build a slum anywhere. At election time the government will regularize it and you can then sell it for atleast Rs. 5 lacs. If you've built multiple slums you will be rich without having to do anything else. Regularising slums is like telling a thief that if he has stolen something he is entitled to keep it. What the Government should do: * Not regularalise any slums. Infact anyone encroaching another persons or public land should be fined severly to create a deterrent against encroachment. * Allot land to current slums to enable building of low cost housing where the allottees pay for the construction cost over a period of about 15 years. * Building multi storey buildings instead of the ground level shanties will free lot of space for providing amenities such as Gardens, Playgrounds, Hospitals, Schools, Wider roads & footpaths etc. What the Citizens must do: |
| Garbage guru
replies to Ramita Mehta's previous message on My Proposal for Garbage
Disposal in each area From Vag Shantharam Shenai garbageguru@gmail.com 93241 56273 Quoting your letter, with my replies interspersed. regards, Vag Shantharam Shenai Garbage was a major nuisance during flooding. SHANTHARAM: This is an avoidable situation. Even with flooding, it need not be a nuisance. In the first place, garbage need not be created. Man made and Natural waste must not be permitted to be mixed in the first place. These two streams can be resolved easily then, and with diginity to those who work the systems and with no health hazard whatsoever. As many have written so far, we need to educate people about it. SHANTHARAM: How would YOU do this ? I strongly feel that wards need to be broken in to many more sub-wards. SHANTHARAM: That was the idea of the ALM, and in Marathi, Madhu Sawant of `I clean Mumbai` keeps saying, it means `Aamchi Lahan Municipality` I am sure that ward officer does not see his complete ward in 5 years term. SHANTHARAM: Lets do some research and check this out. They are supposed to have 3 year terms unless there is political pressure to transfer the person. What is important is local self Governance - NOT BMC. SHANTHARAM: You are utterly butterly RIGHT. Here is my small proposal: Proposal for Garbage Disposal in each area Under Self Governance During recent flooding, many problems have come up in the city. One major problem, even otherwise being faced in the city is collection & disposal of Garbage. This paper deals with garbage disposal in local areas without BMC trucks. Summary: Every ½ kilometer area is taken as an unit. BMC/ State Govt. provides a land of 20*30 sq meter size in that area. SHANTHARAM: Each building can be forced to do it as now we show only 2 sq feet requirement per family. Private garbage collector is appointed who employs his truck to pick up the wet garbage from each building. This garbage collection can be done by a NGO or any person who has the know how to turn the wet garbage into manure by Vermiculture. These collectors can be paid Rs 10/ per flat. If cost of about 50 paise per Kg is made available by reimbursement from the M.C.G.M., (since they spend Rs.1.50), then the problem will be permanently solved before it begins ! My project is the ONLY citizen's project with this precedent. It must be replicated. Hence a building with 300 flats will fetch 3000/ per month. SHANTHARAM: If I assume 500 gms of NATURAL waste per family, that gives 15 Kg natural waste per family per month and 4500 Kg Natural waste per month so at Rs.3000/- that you are asking for, its 66 paise per Kg which is also O.K. and this can support even the infrastructure. The vermi bins need to be within the buildings itself for ease of handling. Such systems are already working with Stree Mukti Sanghatana's `parisar vikas bhaginis`. In my locality there are about 50 buildings, more than 200 shops and a big slum area. This person will earn about 2 to 3 lacs from garbage collection. Besides tons of manure will be made. SHANTHARAM: Sorry, the lakhs you see in this business does not exist, in the system you propose. Do come and see my municipal project and you will be shown all costings. Employment will be generated for about 20 to 40 people in each area for collecting and putting the garbage in the pits. SHANTHARAM: Actually, the building sweeper and gardener is already there. They can manage it easily within themselves and earn a bit extra. Usually, they are under paid. They should be permitted better reimbursement for solving our difficult problems. Worms are initially required to start the manure making process. SHANTHARAM: We have new wormless systems but using the essence of deep burrowing earthworm techniques and then there is the patented technique of Vermi ++ from Bhawalkar Ecological Research Institute also. I.I.T. BOMBAY also has a Soil Biotechnology which has a patent from the United States and India. (1kg worms cost 500Rs). Less than ½ kg. wet garbage is collected from a flat in a day. In my building, we generate less than 25kg garbage from 304 flats. (in about 150 flats, working youngsters are staying). SHANTHARAM: O.K., my calculations were similar, though empirical. Dry garbage is disposed of by society sweeper/ manager to rag pickers on a daily or weekly basis. SHANTHARAM: YES. Licences can be given road wise. Other garbage Rubble from renovation of the flats has to be disposed of in an area pre decided by BMC or NGOs. SHANTHARAM: And where is this. Mumbai generates about 2000 tonnes daily. Where will you put it ? Buildings generally have sweepers who collect garbage from flats. Many building have implemented the concept of dry and wet garbage segregation. In my building one needs to buy black bags for wet garbage and white bags for dry garbage from society. SHANTHARAM: I will show you a system without bags. The bags themselves are part of the problem. Bulidings need to implement this seriously. SHANTHARAM: Agreed. In case, garbage collector finds no segregation from some flats, they will be charged extra for their garbage disposal. SHANTHARAM: Agreed. Food stalls and shops need to pay extra for lifting their garbage for more than once in a day. SHANTHARAM: They can pay agreed rate as is done in Jaipur now. Any one can call these people at other times, if there is a need. SHANTHARAM: Our system is also on call. Our crew have mobiles, digital camera and office phone, including all drivers. The worst problem in the city is garbage trolleys. Wherever they have put garbage trolleys, they have become eye sore with scattered garbage and dogs around them. We have to remove all these trolleys. SHANTHARAM: I will show you systems where there will be no dog nuisance. Mother nature sends them since we are misbehaving. There is a role for them because we misbehave. Its our fault. troleys can be used within buildings and small trailers can be used outside. Please come and see our trailer systems. The trailers can be kept at different spots while the engine vehicle goes around dragging it one by one. In my area when I went to BMC office to request to remove dozens of trolleys from our area, I was told that these trolleys are there for last 40 years hence they can not be removed! SHANTHARAM: They are only stating policy. These can be changed by us. Plastic bags need to be banned with immediate effect and what ever plastic bags are generated should be disposed of to rag pickers who send them for recycling. SHANTHARAM: Its Poly Vinyl Chloride that is the criminal plastic and is a deadly health hazard, and particularly an endocrine disruptor and dioxin, heavy metal and furan source. (When incinerated with other man made stuff) Even P.V.C. wire which is burned by rag pickers to salvage the copper produces the most deadly dioxin since copper is a catalyst for dioxin, when P.V.C. burns. This is just a small sample of self governance. SHANTHARAM: Your concept is flawless. Details can be filled in. All tests and trials have ben done. All knowledge and grass roots experience exists. This needs to be implemented in all other sectors as well such as water, road repair and maintenance, Govt.hospitals and schools etc. SHANTHARAM: Yes. Every work needs to be broken down to such pieces that responsibility can be pinned on one person for that particular task in that area. SHANTHARAM: You are precise and correct. Your valuable comments are most welcome. SHANTHARAM: You got them. I went to pack the rice for distribution. It has as many insects as the grains. SHANTHARAM: This is because the grains are grown with chemicals. genuine organic grain with correct method will never bring insects until the grain is too far gone. Where does Govt. get them? SHANTHARAM: Look. This is the present situation. Things are being done out of wrong knowledge. Right knowledge is there but `business interests` are too powerful. Why do we need to dole out to people? SHANTHARAM: Because we have created a situiation to make them helpless in the first place. Why can't we allow them some respectability? SHANTHARAM: First, lets start respecting ourselves and insist firmly to be treated better by our statutory agencies. Banks for one can provide them some loans. SHANTHARAM: Hmmm Unless economies are created, they will default. But this has to be done. Its possible. Others (NGOs) can help with Children's books, bags, uniforms, medicines etc. SHANTHARAM: Wealth needs to be created. BIBEK ANAND from bhagalpur Bihar has been writing about us needing to shift our focus from `SAMPATI` to `SAMPADA` to get out of social fears and insecurities. So easy really. Lets do it. All of you must have seen long queues of 100 to 200 women waiting for free kerosene for hours. Why can not it be supplied to their homes without harassing them? SHANTHARAM: I touch your feet for saying this. Ramita SHANTHARAM: So glad you have a firm vision. regards, Vag Shantharam Shenai Green Cross Society, c/o Municipal Sewage Pumping Station, Opposite Indian Oil Nagar, Jai Prakash Road, Andheri (West), Mumbai 400 053. Phone: 26329978 Mobile: 93241 56273 (Phone will not work today as earpiece is being replaced) E-mail: garbageguru@gmail.com, garbageguru@vsnl.com, wastetohealth@hotmail.com |
| My Proposal
for Garbage Disposal in each area Garbage was a major nuisance during flooding. As many have written so far, we need to educate people about it. I strongly feel that wards need to be broken in to many more sub wards. I am sure that ward officer does not see his complete ward in 5 years term. What is important is local self Governance - NOT BMC. Here is my small proposal: Proposal for Garbage Disposal in each area Under Self Governance During recent flooding, many problems have come up in the city. One major problem, even otherwise being faced in the city is collection & disposal of Garbage. This paper deals with garbage disposal in local areas without BMC trucks. Summary: Every ½ kilometer area is taken as an unit. BMC/ State Govt. provides a land of 20*30 sq meter size in that area. Private garbage collector is appointed who employs his truck to pick up the wet garbage from each building. This garbage collection can be done by a NGO or any person who has the know how to turn the wet garbage into manure by Vermiculture. These collectors can be paid Rs 10/ per flat. Hence a building with 300 flats will fetch 3000/ per month. In my locality there are about 50 buildings, more than 200 shops and a big slum area. This person will earn about 2 to 3 lacs from garbage collection. Besides tons of manure will be made. Employment will be generated for about 20 to 40 people in each area for collecting and putting the garbage in the pits. Worms are initially required to start the manure making process. (1kg worms cost 500Rs). Less than ½ kg. wet garbage is collected from a flat in a day. In my building, we generate less than 25kg garbage from 304 flats. (in about 150 flats, working youngsters are staying). Dry garbage is disposed of by society sweeper/ manager to rag pickers on a daily or weekly basis. Other garbage Rubble from renovation of the flats has to be disposed of in an area pre-decided by BMC or NGOs. Buildings generally have sweepers who collect garbage from flats. Many building have implemented the concept of dry and wet garbage segregation. In my building one needs to buy black bags for wet garbage and white bags for dry garbage from society. Buildings need to implement this seriously. In case, garbage collector finds no segregation from some flats, they will be charged extra for their garbage disposal. Food stalls and shops need to pay extra for lifting their garbage for more than once in a day. Any one can call these people at other times, if there is a need. The worst problem in the city is garbage trolleys. Wherever they have put garbage trolleys, they have become eye sore with scattered garbage and dogs around them. We have to remove all these trolleys. In my area when I went to BMC office to request to remove dozens of trolleys from our area, I was told that these trolleys are there for last 40 years hence they can not be removed! Plastic bags need to be banned with immediate effect and what ever plastic bags are generated should be disposed of to rag pickers who send them for recycling. This is just a small sample of self governance. This needs to be implemented in all other sectors as well such as water, road repair and maintenance, Govt. hospitals and schools etc. Every work needs to be broken down to such pieces that responsibility can be pinned on one person for that particular task in that area. Your valuable comments are most welcome. I went to pack the rice for distribution. It has as many insects as the grains. Where does Govt. get them? Why do we need to dole out to people? Why can't we allow them some respectability? Banks for one can provide them some loans. Others (NGOs) can help with Children's books, bags, uniforms, medicines etc. All of you must have seen long queues of 100 to 200 women waiting for free kerosene for hours. Why can not it be supplied to their homes without harassing them? Ramita Mehta (ramitamehta@hotmail.com) Aug 9, 2005 |
| As we in a Public-Private partnership in this Flood relief venture, we need a clear output from the Government bodies about the disbursement of the relief funds from 1. centre allocation 2. state relief allocation As NGOs, please encourage people to openly and transparently list their work. I don't mean from a trumpeting angle by them, but to avoid duplication. Can we keep passing this message and get them to agree to these measures. Sriram sriram@akanksha.org Aug 9, 2005 |
|
Anger
is the only antidote Fight
Politician-Builder Nexus With Protests, Citizens’ Initiatives By
Pritish Nandy |
| It is humbly
suggested that the actual distribution of cash and other relief materials should be done by a small local committee comprising both the departmental ward officials as well as a representative of an NGO. This is suggested since a report in today's paper indicates certain malpractices of forging or fraudulent signatures and appropriation of 50 to 60 per cent of the cash compensation by the officials. srl narasimhan secretary@wisaindia.org August 05, 2005 |
| Spreading DDT - a chemical banned in many countries is like giving short term relief at the expense of SEVERE long term damage and it is the worst thing that can happen. Chlorine and iodine are carcinogenic and will again provide short term relief with long term and very expensive and often untreatable consequences. We are reaping the seeds we have sown and we have to take responsibility for this. We have to understand the cycle of nature and respect it. An analogy can be made with bringing food aid to Niger now. This is a short term relief measure sure to bring long term problems. The reason for nature to produce these problems is to reduce the population to a level that she can support. If we don't accept that there will be another calamity in the near future. And we will all the time be doing rescue operations. If you save the lives of all these malnourished children in Niger, and this population cannot be supported by that country, every year there will be a famine. I have been to Africa and seen the result of so many aid organisations is famine because the population would die of 'natural causes' before and now dies of large scale famine. What was the use of all that aid? In the same way if we don't improve our infrastructure we will be vulnerable and have fear every year. These short term measures will give everyone a good feeling and then they may lapse back into amnesia. Politicians prefer short term measures because these bring them instant rewards. So only NGO's may be capable to implement or fight for the implementation of long term goals if at all anyone. To aim for long term goals may be wishful thinking but to do short term relief measures will spell long term disaster so perhaps it is better not to do anything. The problems in Mumbai have been caused by numerous short term measures. If you can't do long term things, its better to leave everything to Nature because she surely can. There is a very good book about all this - its short but should have been much shorter - called ISHMAEL by Daniel Quinn. Do try and read it if you can. There are longer better books but this gives the basic picture (though in a story form) and is reasonably short. I feel what you are doing is great - preparing lists and improving the infrastructure. This helps on the long term. 3 Aug 2005 Krishan <krishan@vsnl.com> |
| The
only solution to solve Mumbai's problems - Shifting offices outside the
city - Keshav Acharya" <keshavacharya@yahoo.com> |
| Did
you lose your ration card in the floods? By: |
| Food Relief In The Floods by Dr. Vijaya Venkat |
| Dosage will depend on the individuals. Homoeopathic medicines are available in all Homoeopathic shops. Neem cream too they should be having, or ask at Ayurvedic outlets. DO NOT add Chlorine, Flouride to clean water. They are very harmful substances. Tying cloth with cotton to kitchen tap will give you clean water. Boil the water if necessary. Then double filter with thick cloth and store it in earthern pot (yes, the good old Matka) and feel the pleasure of drinking real fresh water. Get the rubbish cleaned regularly, twice a day if necessary. Make the BMC do their primary work. Do NOT use DDT. It is not necessary. DDT will get into ground water and it is a deadly poison. DDT is banned all over the world. Instead spread Neem powder/Neem spray. It will take care of mosquitoes and flies in one go without disturbing the environment. Best Wishes Dr. Leo Rebello leorebello@vsnl.com www.healthwisdom.org |
| Dosage will depend on the individuals. Homoeopathic medicines are available in all Homoeopathic shops. Neem cream too they should be having, or ask at Ayurvedic outlets. Discard the list of medicines given out by the BMC and prevent and treat the following diseases by using your commonsense, grandma medicines, and following homoeopathic medicines, which are cheaper, faster and without any side effects, says Dr. Leo Rebello. Malaria China Sulph 3x, Malaria Officinialis 200. Food poisoning and gastroenteritis Ars Alb, Cuprum Ars, Carbo Veg or Veratrum Alb in 200 or IM potency. Typhoid Baptisia 200 Typhoidinum 1M Cholera Chiefly Veratrum Alb, Camphor, Cuprum Met -- 200 Dengue Eupatorium Perf 200 Leptospirosis Ars Alb, Pyrogen Homoeopathic Pyrogen can be used as a broad spectrum preventive, in a single dose.... Similarly, the following herbs easily obtainable can be used to maintain good health and get over monsoon maladies. Echinacea is an antidote to all kinds of poisons, viruses and toxins, and thereby cures diseases caused by them. It acts as an antidote to malaria and is also used in typhoid, diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera infantum, chronic and foetid bronchitis. Neem (Azadirachta indica) - nature’s panacea for all ills - antiseptic, antipyretic, anthelmintic and has curative uses in jaundice, dysmenorrhoea, psoriasis, urticaria, pruritus and several skin disorders. Also keep handy Jeera powder, haldi (turmeric), kayam churna, Avla powder, chyavan prash, liv 52. It is time we became aware of the shocking reality that 90 per cent of all diseases are nutritional disorders. So, take following fruit juices for Colds : orange, lemon, grapefruit, pineapple, carrot, onion. Coughs (including bronchitis and asthma) : grapes, orange, lemon, carrot, radish, celery. Diarrhoea : apple, carrot, celery. Headaches : grape, lemon, tomato, lettuce, parsley, cucumber, beet. Influenza : apple, grape, lemon, lettuce, carrot, celery. Malaria : carrot, papaya, pomegranate. Typhoid : all citrus fruits. AND FAIL NOT TO TAKE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONS 1.. Do not go bare feet or get wet in rains, specially if you have wounds. 2.. Drink lots of clean water. 3.. Wash your hands, face, feet before sitting down to eat. 4.. If you have come in contact with animals, or handled sick people, or lifted dead bodies, in particular, take bath before eating. 5.. Prefer clean and freshly cooked food. Congee or Kanji is the best food in monsoon. Hot soups and broths too should be preferred to fried and oily substances. 6.. Do not eat old / stale refrigerated foods and avoid meats. 7.. Drink fresh buttermilk and eat curds (yogurt). That will protect your stomach and intestinal lining. 8.. Use mosquito nets for sleeping in, or neem cream or eucalyptus oil on the skin. 9..Don’t panic. 10. Avoid allopathic drugs or vaccinations. All the best Dr. Leo Rebello Your natural doctor who has NOT pawned his commonsense |
| Aug 2, 2005
In response, to what Shaheen from Akanksha has written, regarding radios being distributed to all households through BMC. I think it is a great idea and I do know that Development Alternative in Delhi has made such cheap portable ones for public consumption. Also, if I am not wrong they dont need batteries. Mr. Ashok Khosla is the person to be contacted for this at 011-26967938 Saloni Saloni.Doshi@timesgroup.com |
| Aug 2, 2005 Checklist for bmc, etc. May I add the following to the list. This might be needed to review and scrutinize based on preventive , corrective / remedial measures as per the relevant areas. Have Police, BMC and Fire departments got special disaster management section / department ? [if so names and numbers both of home as well as office of current officers] Have they got work force to deal with work load of this magnitude? What contingency plans exist now? Have they got necessary logistics at hand to deal with? Has BMC got the list of vulnerable buildings [at least based on heavy population where toll can be high] , areas with hazardous electrical wirings, road conditions, open manholes to tackle especially before the monsoon] What about public / community awarness program ? can NGOs take up this issue? Or else who can address this issue ? Based on geographical locations? Perhaps . Honestly, people are best and I have heard seen them respond / help / coordinate far better at the time like this? But some trained leaders and groups are required in such situations. Prabhakar Rane (pr44@indiatimes.com) |
| Aug 2, 2205 Solution is simple but difficult to achieve. It is in within you and me. We need to bring radical change in ourselves and in our next generation. I am an engineer, I know if I can pin point a problem in a machine then it is not a difficult task for me to repair any machine. Same is with Mithi. We need to pinpoint the problem. To under stand this problem, just think of the circles in circle and there is dot at the centre. We will start from a dot which is me or you. first circle around that dot is my family member whom I like most, like wise there are a few circles after circles for my family member by priority, then comes neighbors, then my building, so on. Can you imagine for whom the last circle is designated; it is for MERA MAHAN BHARAT. It is too far from me this is the main problem. Like wise we never thought as Mithi is our property and to maintain it sanctity. We treated Mithi as our property but for dumping garbage and encroaching upon it. Same behaviour is every where I keep my home clean and decorated but not area around my home. It is not only Mithi, look at the Railway bogies & public places. A few years back I happened to go to Share Bazar, all walls of the stair case were coloured red. Are not people visiting Share Bazar educated? I think they must be rich too? Many times you will find posters pasted on in side/out side of local trains, on columns of bridges and walls of railway stations, not only of Politicians and workers unions but also of most respected religious preachers. Who have millions of followers, what kind of preaching they do I could never understood. Look at Hindu Mandirs all over India, except a few, are they really clean? I have seen at one religious place in Marathwada, there is large tank at entrance for devotees to wash there feet before entering for DARSHAN & devotees wash the feet and drink same water as sacred water. At Narsingh Gutta near Hyderabad I saw human sputum floating all around & over the greened water of Kund . People including educated were taking bath in that sacred water. Same is the condition at Ram Kund, Nashik, Varansi list is long. Barbers use the same blade for shaving heads of number of devotees at most famous religious place in South. So the problem is every where, every one’s share is in spoiling the whole Bharat. And the solution, every one’s participation is required to solve this problem. Mithi is not only in Mumbai it is every where in North, South, East, and West, also in skies of India, We did not spared god too. When I read today's news paper, many of the big wigs have awaken from the long sleep. They are doing something, but I don't know how long this tempo will sustain. What can we do? Start with ourself, when you are out carry your garbage with you, if you don't find dust bin. And ask others too. Treat public property as our own property, and bring the position of outer circle to the dot. Regards & be in touch Ravindra ravi_raghuwanshi@hotmail.com |
| I fully
support Madhu Sawant's views that thin plastic bags are a nuisance to
public, environment, especially drains which they block. I find it
surprising that every one in media is criticizing everything BUT not a
single word against thin plastic bags which are a major reasn for blocked
drains. Maybe the plastic lobby blocked it! Some of the many possible solutions are 1. use of ecofriendly paper-bags (prevalent in pre-plastic bag days) 2. proper disposal systems & fines for people loitering plastic bags (any size) 3. Totally ban thin bags 4. Ask plastic mfrs to install (plastic) bins for disposal in public places and to create awareness .. Ramesh Patodia (ramesh@xultant.com), Aug 1, 2005 |
| here's an
idea. Why don't we ask people to buy/donate cheap portable radios and
coordinate with the BMC to get them distributed. It's likely that we'd
like to help kids through providing educational materials too so people
can contact us with requirements. Also if collection centres are needed,
we can try to organise a few spaces. you can start with my house which is
at worli. Shaheen akanksha shaheen@vsnl.com (July 31, 2005) |
| It took just 10 hrs. of heavy rains to prove how fickle the "dreams" and "visions" of the powers-that-be could be of converting Mumbai into Shanghai. It was, in an inverse way, a lesson for those who hold the reins of Maharashtra Government on how to pull up our socks, plug the loop-holes in our policies and laws and honestly implement them in letter and spirit, on why not to succumb to greed and play into the hands of a fistful of builders who seem to virtually run the government for selfish gains, the dire need to realize that open spaces, no-development zones and our fragile coastal areas need to be protected if we do not want a major catastrophe to cause more loss of lives and public property. The main areas where attention needs to be focused by the powers-that-be are :- 1. Dissuading influx of people :-- Agreed that it would be unconstitutional to prevent people from entering the city. But couldn't the anti-encroachment laws be stringently enforced when these migrants usurp our scarce open space to build a shanty? Couldn't the voting rights of encroachers be withdrawn? Encroachment by shanty dwellers and unauthorized hawkers violates at least ten laws of the land - from the BMC Act to the Constitution of India. The unhindered proliferation of hutments and unauthorized hawkers on our open spaces imposes a burden on our infrastructure from drainage, power supply, water supply, quality of air etc. Death of slum dwellers due to landslides could have been averted if action had been taken against them in the first place. First the slums are allowed to proliferate on hill slopes and then they rush to their aid and later grieve at the loss of precious lives during such calamities. Even slums are tolerated on our single largest green lung of ! our city - the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. 2. Banning thin plastic bags :-- About 3-4 years ago the then DMC - C B Rokde had dedicatedly enforced the ban on manufacture and usage of thin plastic bags which choke our drains. But then no other officer was keen to enforce the ban, including his superiors as it was non-lucrative. 3. Proper desilting of drains :- Rarely is the desilting of drains monitored by the senior BMC officers. Mostly it is left to the junior officers to inspect the work and clear the bills. 4. Strengthen Disaster Control System :-- At present DCS is just a complaint accepting system with no body to take decisions for it. In the present case on realizing the severity of the rains and the danger the low lying areas posed, the DCS could have immediately swung into action by warning the residents and office goers via FM radio and electronic media, of the need to stay indoors and the danger that lay ahead. If this was done earlier, then either people would have left early from work or not ventured out after officer hours to get stranded on road or in train. The towing vans were not intimated and kept ready and then when the engine of the vehicles failed it was too late to call the towing vans as there was no way that these vans could reach the trouble spots. Also the mobile companies could have been told to send SMSes to all their clients of the impending floods and to take necessary precautions. Thanks heavens that there was no accompanying earthaquake - as it was quite likely that due to unmanageable burden imposed upon dams which lie upon seismic areas like Koyna etc. the chances of tremors or major earthquakes could have increased manifold. 5.Protect CRZ laws :-- In the last 10 years, equal no. of times the CRZ laws have been diluted to give way to construction of structures o! n our coastal areas - threatening the fragile eco-system of our wetlands, beaches, coral reefs and mangroves. Then is it any wonder that our coastal areas are unable to bear even the mild turbulence in the ocean. Ironically, just the day prior to the heavy rains lashed Mumbai, our Chief Minister had a brain-storming session with the policy makers in the Environment Ministry and Urban Development Ministry on how to open up No-Development Zones for "development" of the city and find solution to the problem of "housing for the low-income group". Perhaps our CM has not learnt his lessons on the dismal failure of the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme. But then it's the diktats of the builder lobby that our "elected representatives" have to obey isn't it ? While the citizens can go take a walk. 6. Increase or retain the drainage system :-- The past couple of years, thanks to he funding from the World Bank, there is a tremendous spurt in th! e infrastructure construction activities, of agencies like MMRDA etc., like road-widening, building bridges, subways, flyovers etc. the existing storm water drains have either been reduced in size or have been totally obliterated leaving no space for the flow of rain water. This is evident on the Western Express highway where roads have been widened and the nullahs (open drains) which existed earlier have been reduced in size and in some places are totally blocked deliberately or by construction debris. I appeal to the concerned powers-that-be to give a thought to these issues and realities that stare us in the face, rather than getting carried away by the "visions" and "dreams" of a few short sighted people and getting egged on by the helping hand offered by the World Bank and trying to make our city the "business hub" of our country at the cost of quality of life and the threat to the life and property of the law-abiding citizens. Thank you! WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, IF WE CARE. G R Vora Plot - 275/3, Gope Nivas, Sion E, Mumbai-22. Ph - (022) 24091193 / 9869 195785 "If we fight, we may not always win, but if we don't fight, we will surely lose." MADHU SAWANT Save--our-- Mumbai madhu_sawant2000@yahoo.com |
| I was seeing the 'Hafte ka Audit' program on Awaaz y'day. I am apalled that top govt officials - bmc, police, fire brigade, etc - took out 2-3 hours to go to the studio to defend themselves when the crisis is still going on. I saw in other meetings also that there is hardly a sense of urgency, and no 'take charge' attitude either. It is a pity that the govt has to spend time to earn goodwill instead of spending time to alleviate suffering. Citizens and govt both need to reflect deeply about this. I am also seeing clearly the lack of an umbrella org of NGOs in Mumbai during times of crisis like this one. After things have settled down, it would be worthwhile for senior experienced NGOs to sit down and see what type of systems should be put in place for NGOs. I think it would also be useful to have such a meet to see if NGOs can play a role in helping proper utilisation of the Rs. 700 cr relief amount sent by the Centre. Do let me have your thoughts. Vinay (July 31, 2005) |
| www.karmayog.com has setup a free Mumbai flood resource site for info, needs, volunteers, photos, stories. Pl inform all." If you can email this to your friends, it may can help both those who need help and want to help. |
| Let's put our minds together to make a list of resources that would be useful in times of a disaster. Certain data should be publicly available. Other data would be only with the relevant authorities e.g. home and mobile numbers and home addresses. Each list can be listed by ward, and sortable by locality, pincode, specialisation, capacity, etc. Lists need to be for just before, during, just after, and a week after a disaster. Govt and private resources would both be included separately. Below are some examples. Primary Govt contacts: - Ward Office addresses and phone numbers and fax numbers - Police Stations -- same info - Fire Stations -- same info Medical resources: - Hospitals, their facilities, resources, bed capacity, contact details - Nursing Homes and Clinics -- same info - Pathology Labs and Blood Banks -- contact info - Govt and Private Ambulances -- locations, addresses and phone numbers of where stationed and of owners - Volunteer Doctors - their specialisation, contact details - Boat resources Shelters: - those identified by bmc beforehand - lists of categories which can logically be used e.g. - meeting halls, churches, temples, mosques, schools, colleges, dharamshalas Volunteer Sources: - social clubs e.g. Rotary, Lions, Jaycees, Giants. - religious groups e.g. ISKCON - social service groups e.g. NSS - community groups e.g. Maheshwari Pragati Mandal Rehab sources -- basically an updated directory from each association is enough. - medicines -- pharma cos, chemists, etc. - food - caterers, bakeries, bicuit mfrs, etc. - contractors - earth-moving, building, etc. Please add to this list. It is very important. Please send whatever info you have. That is also very important. The reason why it is important that YOU help is that as I have seen in the last 2 days, such lists are non-existent. The emergency number section in www.karmayog.com does have some of these lists to some extent but all need to be verified. Pl do respond one way or the other. Thanks Vinay (July 31, 2005) |
| From what I understand, the Mumbai Disaster Management Plan is of two volumes. Vol I is the Risk Assessment and Response Plan itself. This is already put up in www.karmayog.com under "Government Resources" (Ward-wise) in the "Flooding in Mumbai" section. It is a 'nice' document - more as an overview of what all would need to be done then as well as what should be done beforehand - the type made by a consultant or a TISS-type research project. It is a document that every relevant organisation should have so that they have perused it beforehand, and have it as an available as a ready reckoner to know who should be doing what. But it is definitely not an action manual i.e. it can not be used to put into use at the time of the actual disaster itself. Vol II is an Inventory List of Resources that would be needed during a disaster. This is prepared in 2000 and is thus a little out-of-date. Moreover, the list was not comprehensive even then - but in terms of categories and the number in each category. Also, there are no phone numbers (maybe they are in some other record) and without phone numbers, such lists themselves are not of much use. We will put up most of these lists in Karmayog over the next several days though they are not of any use at the moment. But what we all need to do is to collaborate and share data so that uptodate and comprehensive information is publicly available. (July 31, 2005) |
| Areas where NGOs can help Help dishoused people. Shift to temporary shelters and collect clothes, food packets and distribute the same to the needy and dishoused. Private ambulances / Trust vehicles could be deployed with private medical teams for health check ups in slum areas, could offer Rx for minor ailments like fever, D & V etc., and help in disinfection of surroundings. Health education, distribution of chlorine tabs and ORS packets. Propagating Instructions regarding food and water consumption to avoid epidemics like jaundice, gastro, etc. |
| GOOD HEALTH GUIDELINES 1) Drink water only after boiling for 10 minutes 2) Do not eat without washing hands 3) Don't eat stale food & exposed fruits 4) Use chlorine tablets / solution for water purification 5) Discourage open defecation 6) Use O.R.S. packets in event of diarrhoea 7) Do not walk barefoot 8) Avoid water logging in and around home 9) Dispose of garbage only in municipal waste bins 10) Consult doctors in case of any fever. (by Govt. of Maharashtra and Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai) |
| Suggestion for purifying water sent by WSPA. It may be useful for you... humans and
animals. Diana " would have thought the cheapest solution was to add betadine (povidine iodine solution) to the water and then leave it 30 minutes before drinking. This is the method advocated for purifying drinking water for people where boiling is not possible. The recommended rate of addition is 8 drops per litre (0.5ml per litre) if the water can be filtered through muslin etc; or 20 drops (1ml per litre) if it is cloudy and contains particulate. Betadine solution can be bought quite cheaply in India (about 200 Rs for a litre I think) and the small quantities required will make this a cheap option. Iodine purification of water is more effective that chlorine based methods as it kills just about all nastiest. It makes the water taste foul to us, but my experience is that animals seem to quite like the taste. It also will help any underlying iodine related fertility problems in cows and I think many Indian cows may be iodine deficient.) Iodine is how I purify water when I have to, and how I render vegetable, salads and fruit fit for my consumption" Nilesh Bhanage call9820161114@rediffmail.com |
| Suggestion
to Reduce Effects of Disasters compounded by the Movement of People: When
the bombs went of in London on 7/7 the uniform public announcement was "Stay
Put" or remain where you are till further instructions or till told
that it was safe to move. A lot of the traffic congestions, deaths in cars
and suffering of passenges stranded on busses could have been surely avoided
if they had remained where they were in the first place. >From our office
most of the staff decided to remain in the office or with friends in the
vicinity. They suffered the least compared to those who decided to go home - so of the homeward bound walked for 4-6 hours in neck deep (dirty) water before they reached home. What we need to set in place is A system whereby people are told to remain where they are and to be calm till further information is available. The ONGC disaster could have been worse - but standing saftey drill, to wear life jackets while working offshore saved the lives of most of the personnel on the oil platform. Poorvi Chothani, Esq. Law Quest Correspondent to Cyrus D. Mehta & Associates, PLLC 36 Maker Towers 'F' Cuffe Parade Mumbai 400 005 Tel.: 5654 1671 Cell Phone: 98209 39666 poorvi@cyrusmehta.com www.cyrusmehta.com |
| Govt MUST rope in TV channels,
radio broadcasters to flash every 10 or 15 minutes news that stops rumours, stops panic, by giving facts, giving specific guidance -- what to do / not do; where to go / not go etc. BMC, Police and Traffic helplines phone numbers must be flashed all the time.Same for Railways airlines etc All must set up helplines since they dont have any. An organisation of volunteers (names, mobile/phone numbers) needs to be set up so that they can be summoned at short notice. farrokh_mehta@yahoo.com |
| The Ambulance
Service have launched a national "In case of Emergency (ICE)" campaign. The idea is that you store the word "ICE" in your mobile phone address book, and against it enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency". In an emergency situation ambulance and hospital staff will then be able to quickly look at your mobile phone and find out who your first contact should be and be able to contact them. It's so simple that everyone can do it. Please do. Sanjay Kher Dun & Bradstreet Information Services India Pvt. Ltd. Tel Direct : 022 5676 5462 Tel Board : 022 2857 4190/92/94 Fax : 022 2857 2060 Email: khers@mail.dnb.co.in |