[Reader-list] Enquiry into the Mumbai Floods 2005

[Concerned Citizens Commission]

Dear Fellow Citizens of Mumbai:

We were deeply shocked by the events that led to the tragic floods in  
Maharashtra which led to the deaths of several hundreds of citizens  
in Mumbai and Maharashtra. The formation of the Concerned Citizens'  
Commission (CCC): An Enquiry into the Mumbai Floods 2005, was  
announced at a press conference on 16 August 16 2005 (please refer  
press note below). The initiative is being actively supported by over  
30 organisations.

In brief, the CCC is a fact finding mission that will look into the  
disaster that befell large parts of Mumbai city on July 26 and in the  
following days. The Commission consists of an eminent Panel of nine  
members. They will be assisted by NGOs and those who have been  
involved in the relief efforts at the grass roots level, as well as  
others with knowledge of disaster management, urban planning,  
administration, ecology and other relevant fields.

Through a series of public hearings and depositions from common  
Mumbaikars, urban planning experts, government officials and others,  
the Panel will piece together the events leading up to the tragedy,  
identify and hold accountable those responsible for inaction and  
mismanagement and make a set of recommendations.

The CCC will look into the causes of the flooding, the response from  
government and other agencies and how our future urban planning can  
ensure that the damage from future 'natural disasters', compounded by  
human factors, can be mitigated. We aim to release the Commission's  
finding in the form of a report by 31 October 2005.  As one can  
imagine, this is no easy task logistically. Fund raising for the CCC  
is currently underway.

On behalf of the CCC, we urge your organisation to make a donation of  
whatever amount possible. Cheques in favour of  Conservation Action  
Trust can be sent to CAT, B 502 Glengate, Hiranandani Gardens, Powai.  
Mumbai 400076. (Please note we are still waiting for our S. 80G  
approval – please make your cheques “A/C Payee Only” – Thanks)


CONCERNED CITIZEN'S COMMISSION (CCC): An Enquiry into the Mumbai  
Floods 2005

Few Mumbaikars were left untouched or unaffected by the devastating  
floods that hit the city from July 26 onwards. After the grief and  
shock has come an overwhelming sense of anger and the urgent need to  
know what actually happened, why civic life remained disrupted for so  
many days and what lessons can be learned, so that a repeat  
catastrophe is avoided.

With this in mind, a coalition of citizen's groups from across the  
length and breadth of the city announce the formation of the  
Concerned Citizens' Commission: An Enquiry into the Mumbai Floods  
2005. The Commission consists of an eminent Panel of nine members.  
They will be assisted by NGOs and those who have been involved in the  
relief efforts at the grass roots level, as well as others with  
knowledge of disaster management, urban planning, administration,  
ecology and other relevant fields.

Through a series of public hearings and depositions from common  
Mumbaikars, urban planning experts, government officials and others,  
the Panel will piece together the events leading up to the tragedy,  
identify and hold accountable those responsible for inaction and  
mismanagement and make a set of recommendations.

The CCC will also look into the causes of the flooding, the response  
from government and other agencies and how our future urban planning  
can ensure that the damage from future 'natural disasters',  
compounded by human factors, can be mitigated.

The Panel will consist of:

1. Justice P.B. Sawant (Retired Supreme Court Judge)
2. Ms. Teesta Seetalvad (Citizens for Justice and Peace)
3. Mr. Shyam Chainani (Bombay Environmental Action Group)
4. Mr. Sharad Kale (Former Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai)
5. Mr. Nasser Munjee (Expert on Urban Infrastructure)
6. Mr. Darryl D'Monte (Environmental Journalist)
7. Mr. Chandrashekhar Prabhu (Architect and Town Planner)
8. Mr. Datta Ishwalkar (Girni Kamgar Sangharsh Samiti)
9. Mr. Suresh Bhosale


The Terms of Reference of the CCC are:

1.   To develop a reliable picture of the floods in Greater Mumbai  
and document what actually took place, the extent of damage to lives  
and dignity of persons, along with a detailed examination of property  
loss and damage, linked critically to the issue of relief and  
compensation.

2.   To determine the causes and factors that led to the flooding,  
including the role of the state executive, government and  
administration in implementing the Disaster Management Plan.

3.  To understand the role of the MCGB and the State police – in pre- 
empting, containing and controlling damage to life and property.

4.  To recommend a set of measures to better anticipate natural  
calamities and to minimize their impact; as also to ensure that  
Disaster Management Plans are implemented more effectively.

5.   To identify in particular those responsible for inaction and  
hold them accountable.

6.   To ensure effective citizen participation in the planning of the  
city and in Disaster Management.

7.   Any other relevant matters that the Panel may decide to include.

The CCC calls on all those with relevant information to share to send  
their submissions to cccmumbaiflood at gmail.com and  
cccmumbaiflood at yahoo.co.uk and to CCC, c/o Citizens for Justice and  
Peace, Nirant, Juhu Tara Road, Juhu, Mumbai 400 049.

The CCC intends to release its Report within three months. The Report  
will then be available to the public to initiate follow up and  
remedial action with the State Government, BMC and other relevant  
authorities, as well as citizens' groups.


Debi Goenka                               Cyrus Guzder



The Concerned Citizens' Commission (CCC) is endorsed by the following  
groups:

Bombay Environmental Action Group (BEAG)
Citizens For Justice and Peace (CJP)
Girangoan Rozgar Hakk Samiti
Shahid Bhagwat Jadhav Samiti Kendra
Conservation Action Trust
AGNI
National Association of People's Movement (NAPM)
BNHS (Bombay Natural History Society)
NAGAR
Apnalaya
Nivara Hakk Suraksha Samiti
Citispace
Clean Air
Bombay Catholic Sabha
Voice Of The Exploited (VOTE)
All India Catholic Union (AICU)
Friends of Society
SEED
People's Union for Human Rights (PUHR)
KHOJ
National Welfare Society
ACHRA and Welfare Education Trust
All India Human Rights & Citizens Option
Communalism Combat
Mangrove Society of India
Marine Drive Residents Association
Oval Cooperage Residents Association
Nariman Point Residents Association
Nirmala Niketan
Rashtriya Yuva Sangathan
Sarvoday International Trust
Mohalla Committee
Prayas
Apnalaya
Ration Kruti Samiti, Mumbai
Majlis
CRIT (Collective Research Initiatives Trust)
Documentation, Training and Research Centre
Institute for Community Organisation Research
_____

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