BHUBANESWAR: With recurring floods in river Nagavali causing extensive damage to public and private property in Rayagada district, the State BJP on Sunday slammed the State Government for not taking permanent measures to save the people from the scourge of natural calamity.
Though the State is prone to floods, the ruling BJD, which is in power for the last 17 years, is yet to prepare an action plan for sub-basins of all major rivers for flood protection in the respective river catchments, State BJP vice-president Samir Mohanty said.
There is no flood protection measures in five major rivers - Bansadhara, Nagavalli, Jhanjabati, Mahendratanaya and Rusikulya - flowing in southern Odisha. Nagavalli, in particular, has turned out to be Rayagada’s sorrow as the river is frequently changing its course.
Noting that flash floods in these rivers in the past have caused extensive damage to the lives and property, Mohanty said it is a matter of regret that the State Government has not learnt anything from the previous calamitous situations.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik being in charge of the Water Resources department since 2000 has not taken any initiative to construct a single barrage in any of the rivers of the State to prevent flood, he added.
Alleging that the huge amount of funds allocated every year for flood protection measures are being grossly misutilised, the BJP leader said corruption is rampant in the department. With no knowledge on the riverine system of the State, the Chief Minister is taken for a ride by a handful of officials of the department.
Mohanty said, president of the BJP’s State unit Basanta Panda has directed party men to rush to the flood affected areas for rescue and relief operations.