''Floods in Orissa could have been prevented''

Kendrapara, Oct 19 (UNI) An internationally acclaimed technocrat today claimed that the recent flood that devastated 19 of the 30 districts and claimed more than 70 lives could have been prevented if the state government took steps earlier.

Former Chief Engineer of State Water Resource Department Bishnu Prasad Das said here that the state government should construct small dams in the Tel, Ong and suktel rivers and construct escapes in the Mahanadi and Chitroptala rivers to allow the flood water spill through the escapes.

Addressing a seminar, organised by the district flood committee here, Mr Das said the government should also construct a dam at Subalaya and Naraja, make flood-zoning systems in the flood-prone areas and inform the inhabitants through public address systems and other medias to minimise the impact of the flood.

He suggested the state government establish Real Time Telemetre to forecast flood. The repair and strengthening of embankments along with dredging of river beds should be initiated by in letter and spirit .

The government, Dr Das said, should make mandatory that the water level of Hirakud reservoir should not exceed 625 ft to prevent such deluge in future.

The District Flood committee alleged that the flood-2008 was man-made and passed a resolution demanding a judicial inquiry into the circumstances leading to the flood and demanded the state government to initiate permanent measures to tackle the possible flood in future.

UNI XC-BD SJC RR BD2010