Jagadeesan was speaking at a discussion `After the Floods, What Next', organised by the Surat branch of the Indian medical Association and its sister organisations on Sunday. All speakers, while acknowledging the efforts of the SMC in averting what could be a potential disaster in the form of an epidemic, agreed that lack of co-ordination between different agencies operating in relief work and shortage of infrastructure could still be sorted out.

Civic officials, practicing physicians, SGCCI office-bearers, and those involved in rescue operations took part in the discussion.

When asked whether SMC was actually prepared for such a natural disaster, the civic chief said though the 21-odd boats that the SMC had could not face the flood current, they had been used optimally. He said that floods helped the SMC to know exactly where it was lacking.

Deputy Commissioner (Health and Hospitals) Dr I C Patel while elaborating the different stages at which the civic body carried out its cleaning operations, claimed that the city was brought to near normalcy in less than six days after the water receded. Drawing parallels, he said during the 1994 flood, cleaning work began only after six days, which had resulted on the so-called plague breaking out.

On whether the SMC was following the action plan chalked out four years ago, Patel pointed out that though the area and population affected and other factors had changed considerably, the fact that the city was back to normal and no epidemic had broken out showed that the SMC had done the best with limited resources.

Speaking at the discussion, Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) president Rajendra Chokhawala, besides reiterating the demands made by him in a letter to the CM a couple of days ago, stressed the need for emergency infrastructure including more boats, cranes and other equipment, not only for floods but also for any other natural calamity. While as many as 7000 claims have been made so far by industrialists for damage to property, the chamber was making all efforts to ensure that all units, who still were closed, started functioning at the earliest, he said.

Newly elected president of IMA, Surat Tony Nicholas thanked the practitioners for rendering their services to the affected people during the floods. While leading physician Kirit Dumasia said people could at least drink boiled water as a safety precaution, others emphasised on the need for better co-operation between private doctors and authorities in times of crisis.

Among others, Yazdi Karanjia, Dr Pini Desai, Ashok Kanuga took part in the discussion.