Odisha Leader Calls for Immediate Relief in Flood-Affected Ganjam District

Bhubaneswar, November 10 (Daily Kiran) : Opposition leader and BJD president Naveen Patnaik has urged Chief Minister Mohan Chandra Majhi to provide immediate relief and rehabilitation for the flood-affected Ganjam district. In a letter sent on Tuesday, he also called for accountability regarding the failures that led to this human-made crisis.

Patnaik detailed his visit to flood-hit areas including Hinjili, Shergada, Aska, and Sorada on November 7. During the visit, he spoke with farmers, women, small traders, and others who suffered significant losses. He noted that the flooding caused extensive damage to infrastructure, destroyed crops, resulted in loss of life, and devastated livelihoods. He emphasized that this disaster has set Ganjam back by several years.

The BJD leader accused the state government of ignoring an early warning issued by the Indian Meteorological Department on October 23. He stated that, according to established cyclone and flood management protocols, sufficient water should have been released from dams before the rains began, and the water levels should have been monitored continuously. Patnaik claimed that the Water Resources Department released water only after the cyclonic rains began, exacerbating the flooding. He also mentioned that residents reported not receiving any warnings before the dam gates were opened.

Despite the advance warning, Patnaik argued that the government was unprepared. He highlighted that heavy rains typically occur on the right side of a cyclone’s landfall, and the government itself admitted that adequate preparations were lacking in Ganjam. He criticized the delays in rescue and relief operations, which left many people stranded without food and water for days.

During his visit, Patnaik collected complaints and requests from affected residents, which he has forwarded to the Special Relief Commissioner for immediate action. He urged the government to collaborate at all levels to ensure timely compensation, stressing that verbal assurances would not suffice.

The BJD president pointed out that the previous BJD government had established a community-based disaster management system, which received international acclaim. This system relied on the involvement of sarpanches, PRI members, and ‘Mission Shakti’ groups. He accused the BJP government of neglecting sarpanches and nearly dismantling ‘Mission Shakti,’ weakening the disaster response framework. Citing repeated mismanagement during disasters in Ganjam, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak, and Balasore, Patnaik called for the government to take responsibility and ensure accountability. He insisted that the progress made during the BJD’s 24 years in power should not be undone by the double-engine government in just 24 months.

Patnaik vowed that any negligence on the part of the government regarding relief and compensation would be raised by the BJD, from the village level all the way to Delhi.