Odisha oppn parties accuse BJP of failing to make adequate preparation to tackle cyclone 'Arnab'

Bhubaneswar, Oct 30 (PTI) The BJD and other opposition parties in Odisha on Friday slammed the BJP for “failing” to make adequate preparation to deal with cyclone ‘Arnab’ despite forecasts of heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of the state.

    Addressing a press conference here, Opposition Chief Whip Pramila Mallik said that had the state government taken preventive measures in advance, damages caused by the cyclone in several districts could have been avoided.

    “The BJP government failed to make adequate preparation to tackle the cyclone and flood situation in Ganjam and Gajapati districts, despite advance warnings issued by the IMD regarding heavy rainfall and the possibility of flooding,” she said.

    “Instead of addressing the sufferings of people, the state government is busy with publicity,” Mallik alleged.

    The Odisha government should have given priority to reservoir management, proper drainage arrangements and the repair of vulnerable river embankments, she said.

    “Several river embankments in Ganjam and Gajapati had already been damaged due to illegal sand mining, which contributed to the devastating flood situation,” Mallik, a former minister, claimed.

    “When thousands of people are marooned, the government engaged one helicopter and evacuated six or seven people. This is only a publicity stunt,” she asserted.

    BJD leader Pratap Jena alleged that relief materials have not yet reached many flood-affected families.

    “The government must immediately expedite rescue and relief operations, and provide assistance to all flood-affected people without any discrimination. Cooked food, safe drinking water and essential commodities must be distributed in a timely manner,” Jena said.

    “If the state government continues to neglect the plight of flood-affected people, the BJD will intensify its democratic agitation against the dispensation,” he said.

    Rejecting BJD’s allegations, Transport Minister B B Jena said the administration is extending all possible help to the affected people despite all odds.

    “It is not acceptable to criticise the administration at this juncture when officials are working round the clock to help the flood-affected people,” Jena said.

    In a separate press conference, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) demanded immediate relief measures, comprehensive damage assessment, compensation and accountability from the state government for the flood in Ganjam district.

    The CPI Odisha State Council called for declaring the flood as a national disaster, and special central assistance for rehabilitation.

    Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik called Ganjam District Collector V Keerthi Vasan and enquired about the prevailing flood situation in his constituency Hinjili and Sheragada, along with other parts of the district.

    Patnaik also sent a party delegation headed by Mallik to Ganjam to meet the affected people, and called upon party functionaries to stand by them.

    The delegation will submit a detailed report to Patnaik.

    The CPI(M) Odisha State Secretariat said a delegation led by senior leader Ali Kishore Patnaik will visit the worst-affected areas of Ganjam and Gajapati to assess the devastation, and meet the affected families.

    Cyclone ‘Arnab’ left a trail of destruction in several parts of Odisha on Thursday. Ganjam is the worst-affected district, while Gajapati and Kandhamal have also suffered damages, officials said.