Demonstrations In Kolkata As Restoration Work Is Painfully Slow
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
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By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2020-05-23 13:32:23
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Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
View all posts by this Author
As large parts of Kolkata remain without power, water, cable television and mobile services and broadband internet and roads, lanes and by-lanes remained blocked for traffic due to fallen trees in the wake of the destruction caused by Cyclone Amphan even after two days, public ire spilled on to the streets. Local people held demonstrations in many parts of the city as the administration expressed its inability to tackle all the problems at a fast pace due to the scale of the devastation. Kolkata Mayor and Municipal Affairs minister in the state government, Firhad Hakim, said that the Kolkata Municipal Corporation did not have the infrastructure to remove the estimated 5500 trees that had fallen all across the city and it would take more time.
The administration is tackling the problem of fallen trees in a logical and need-based manner. It is cutting the smaller branches of trees that are blocking roads that have two flanks in order to at least clear one flank and allow the passage of vehicles. The bigger logs will take some time to clear after electric saws and cranes are pressed in service. Those are now being used on narrow roads that need immediate attention.
The power supply has largely been restored in areas where the cables lie underground. But where there are overhead cables, the fallen trees are causing a huge problem. The cables have been destroyed at many places in a stretch and if the entire stretch is not repaired at the same time, there is the risk of electrocution from live wires when power is restored. The people are obviously suffering as the weather has turned unbearably hot and humid after the cyclone, but it is a problem that will be solved in a phased manner.
All utilities are facing manpower problems due to the lockdown, the fear of and the restrictions imposed because of the pandemic and the non-operation of suburban trains and public transport. Yet, broadband services were restored in many areas in two days and mobile services are being restored at a fast pace. The major concern remains the restoration of power and removing the trees. Citizens have to understand that the administration is facing many handicaps in these difficult times and must come forward to help it.
