India: Who Is Responsible For The Wayanad Disaster? – OpEd

On July 30, 2024, torrential and uninterrupted rain for a few days in Wayanad in Kerala state in India caused a huge landslide, resulting in flood water carrying mud to enter several households and other areas in the dark hours.  As a result, it is reported that several people who were sleeping were caught unaware and were washed away, apart from others who were caught in the mud /  flood water flow and lost their lives. It is reported that so far around 200 people have died and the counting of the dead and injured people is continuing.

This disaster has caused considerable concern and sadness all over India and with many people are wondering as to why such a disaster was not prevented and who is responsible for not taking necessary precautionary steps that could have saved the inhabitants in the area. Now, animated debate is going on with a blame game being exchanged between one group and the other.

It is said that such disaster has happened because several trees were cut down to use the area for cultivating plantation crops. Another view is that in the name of tourism promotion, several  resorts and huge buildings were constructed, in spite of the   unsuitable nature of the soil and climate conditions, violating various rules and regulations.

Indian Home Minister has said in Parliament that the advance warning flashing signals with a message to warn the local government that there was a high possibility of torrential rain and consequent landslide were issued a few days before it occurred. It was further said that such a warning was sent more than once. Local government authorities have not taken  necessary preventive steps inspite of the warning issued.

 In any case, it is obvious that all the above reasons attributed for the disaster could be true and factual. It is also very obvious  that the concerned government officials have not functioned properly with care and caution and the minister in the concerned departments too have not bothered to instruct the officials to do the needful as a matter of priority.

In such circumstances, the question arises as to what is the responsibility of the local elected representative including members of parliament, members of state assembly and members of local municipality / panchayat?  In a democratic society where people elect their representatives for parliament, assembly and other local bodies, it is expected that these elected representatives should closely monitor the issues and shortcomings in the areas that they represent and bring it to the notice of the government at various levels. These elected representatives are supposed to be the watchdogs to safeguard the interests of the people in the area. It is often pointed out that most of the elected representatives do not visit the areas with the frequency that is needed and are often guided by political considerations to protect the interests of the party to which they belong.

In the Wayanad disaster case, the particular minister should be held responsible and is morally bound to resign and the concerned officials should be hauled up and punished for dereliction of duty. But, should the elected representatives go scot-free as if they have no responsibility in the matter?

Such a situation exist not only in the Wayanad disaster, but almost in all cases in India where such disasters and violations take place.  

For example, in Delhi a few days back , three students lost their lives when flood water entered the basement of a tuition centre when the students could not run away. After this sad event, some steps have been taken to inspect such tuition centres in the wake of the public protest. The question arises as why the elected local councillor and members of assembly and parliament were not aware of the impending disaster and did not take any steps to prevent the disaster happening, by representing the matter before hand to the authorities and the ministers.

In Tamil Nadu, a few weeks back, more than 80 poor people lost their lives by consuming illicit liquor. The Tamil Nadu  government immediately suspended some officials and paid compensation to the family of dead persons and seems to have thought that it has done its duty. Obviously, the elected representatives of the people had not monitored the conditions in the area. If they had monitored it they would have known about the practice of illicit liquor consumption and prevented the tragedy.  

The above are the endless stories of disaster events in India, with the glaring conclusion that the elected representatives of the people are failing in their responsibility and remain indifferent to the local conditions.