JMM flays Orissa govt's failure to tackle flood

Baripada, Sep 25 (UNI) Orissa unit of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) today strongly flayed the state government for its failure in dealing with post-flood situation in the tribal dominated Mayurbhanj district.

Mayurbhanj MP Sudam Marandi, the president of the JMM state unit, told newsmen that the belated arrival of relief materials in several of the worst-hit villages reflected the district administration's ''lack of realisation of the gravity of the situation''.

He said the government should appreciate the grim situation still prevailing in the flood-hit areas and reach the marooned areas with adequate relief, including cooked food materials, to the affected people for at least fifteen days.

Baripada MLA Bimal Lochan Das pointed out woes and miseries of villagers of Patrapada under Barsahi block where relief could not reach till last Monday evening.

The JMM suggested that tarpaulins should be supplied to the affected persons whose houses have collapsed.

Since most of the affected persons belonged to BPL category, they should be provided with an ex-gratia payment of Rs one lakh so that they could reconstruct their houses.

The standing kharif paddy crop has been badly damaged in all the flood-hit areas of the district severely crippling the agriculture oriented economy of the people.

The JMM urged the state government to implement a ''special loan waiver scheme'' and ensure total remission of crop loans or any other agriculture related loans of the farmers in the affected areas.

Repairs and restoration of school buildings, roads, bridges, culverts, minor irrigation projects, tubewells should be taken up on a war footing and completed early, Mr Marandi said.

UNI