M M Hassan rues lack of coordination'

Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress has lashed  out at the LDF government for failing to tackle the humanitarian crisis  caused by cyclone Ockhi and said that there was  no coordination between various departments in bringing relief to the victims. KPCC president M. M. Hassan also targeted chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan for not visiting the  affected people. He told reporters here that though the cyclone had caused heavy damage and loss of lives, the cabinet had  not yet met to discuss the situation. “Revenue minister E. Chandrasekharan is missing from the scene of action and the  revenue officials are not getting proper instructions,” he said.

“Pinarayi Vijayan should apologise to the people for the lives lost and for not taking timely preventive steps.  During the 2004 tsunami,  the UDF cabinet had met daily  and the then CM and ministers had visited the affected areas,”  he said. He added that though the chief secretary was told of the imminent cyclone on November  29 and the CM’s office was also warned,  there was serious lapse in initiating timely action.   If the warning had reached the fishermen on time they would not have ventured out into the deep sea.  The warning was issued only on Thursday which was too late.

Mr  Hassan also claimed that opposition  leader Ramesh Chennithala’s Padayorukkam rally had  evolved into a ‘forward march’ of the Congress. The finale, which  was supposed to be held at Shanghumugham beach on December 1, was postponed due to the cyclone.   The KPCC suffered a loss of Rs 6 lakh as the pandal  was almost washed away by the rough sea.