Naveen responsible for flood in Orissa: Samrudha Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Sep 27 (UNI) Samrudha Orissa, a regional political outfit, today alleged that the BJD-BJP alliance government, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, was responsible for the massive loss of life and property in the recent floods.

Party president Jatindranath Mohanty told newspersons here that the flood devastated vast stretches as the embankments of the rivers were not strengthened and the release of water in Hirakud reservoir was not managed properly.

He said though the Chief Minister had announced in 2003 to strengthen the river banks and drainage system in the Mahanadi river system with World Bank assistance, nothing had been done so far.

Mr Mohanty asked the Chief Minister to clarify under what circumstances 46 gates of the Hirakud Dam were opened releasing a huge quantity of water in the Mahanadi.

He alleged that after the disaster, the Chief Minister was trying to politicise the misfortune suffered by the people in a bid to gain mileage out of it.

The Samrudha Orissa president said the government had not yet provided sufficient relief material to mitigate the sufferings of the people taking shelter on highways and other safer places.

Mr Mohanty alleged that the water management in the Hirakud reservoir was faulty and demanded the government to inquire into all aspects of water release from the reservoir through a high power technical committee and cancel all arrangements to provide water to various industries from the reservoir.

The party demanded adequate compensation for all those families who lost their near and dear ones in flood related incidents.

Compensation should also be provided for crop loss, complete reconstruction and repair of roads as well as damage to houses within two months through the village committees, the party demanded.

Mr Mohanty demanded the government to make public the amount received from the Centre under National Calamity Relief Fund and how the money was spent during the past two years.

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