Tuesday, January 4 2005 15:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Thiruvananthapuram: Former Prime Minister Deve Gowda today (Jan 4, 2005) said that a time bound action programme has to be implemented for the rehabilitation of tsunami affected people.

Addressing a press conference after visiting some of the relief camps in Kollam and Alapuzzha district today, Gowda said that it was very difficult for the affected people to stay in relief camps for more days. Rehabilitation work has to be completed at least by March, he said.

Asserting that the Government should be the main monitoring agency for the rehabilitation process, Gowda said that if anybody wanted to adopt any village or construct houses for the victims, it should be in consultation with the Government concerned.

Gowda said that various Non-Government and Voluntary organisation should constitute an all party National Disaster Management committee under the chairmanship of Prime Minister to co-ordinate the relief and rehabilitation work undertaken.

States also should set up Disaster Management Committees to co-ordinate the rehabilitation work by holding frequent meetings, he said.

Stating that the country's Disaster Warning system was not fully equipped, Gowda wanted the Centre to go for advanced disaster management system.