Finance
On Thursday, the government continued to closely monitor Odisha’s flood situation, with Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari conducting an airborne reconnaissance of the worst-affected districts despite reports that rains had subsided and river levels were dropping.
The Minister, accompanied by Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee and Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, inspected flood-affected and waterlogged areas of Jajpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, and Keonjhar districts from a helicopter to assess the extent of damage and the status of relief operations.
Before beginning the aerial survey, Pujari convened a virtual review meeting at Lok Seva Bhavan with district collectors and senior officials to analyze the state’s current flood and monsoon condition.
Following the inspection, the Minister told the media that floods had affected 5,87,822 people in five districts, with 1,76,073 people relocated to safer locations. He stated that three individuals have died in flood-related accidents, and that around 1.65 lakh people are currently residing in rescue camps.
According to the Minister, the floods have caused the maximum damage in Bhadrak, Balasore, and Jajpur, with significant damage in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar.
Pujari provided an update on river conditions, stating that the water level in the Hirakud reservoir was at 620 feet, with two sluice gates open. During the day, approximately 6.5 lakh cusecs of water flowed towards Mundali, with discharge at Naraj estimated to reach nearly 9 lakh cusecs by night. Water has already reached the low-lying villages of Badamba and Athagada in Kataka district.
The Minister quoted the Central Water Commission as saying that the water level at Mundali was still over the warning level but below the danger mark, and that river levels across the state had begun to fall. He noted that the absence of rainfall in the upper catchment areas of Chhattisgarh had brought significant relief and that no major rainfall was forecast over Odisha for the next three days, although rainfall may resume after August 2.
Pujari said authorities have been instructed to ensure that water discharge at Naraj remains below 10 lakh cusecs, beyond which flooding could intensify in downstream areas. He added that the Hirakud reservoir can safely retain water up to 622 feet.
Meanwhile, the Housing and Urban Development Department has stepped up measures to combat urban flooding and waterlogging in impacted areas, including Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jajpur.
Dr. Krushna Chandra Mohapatra, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, stated that the department prioritizes public safety, swift water drainage, and uninterrupted relief activities. He stated that excessive rainfall had increased pressure on natural drainage systems, resulting in waterlogging in various metropolitan areas.
The Minister stated that all department officers and staff’ leave has been cancelled, and officials would remain on 24-hour alert to monitor the situation. Departmental control rooms operate around the clock to coordinate emergency response.
Additional pump sets have been deployed to drain water from inundated areas, and urban local governments have been instructed to deploy sufficient manpower and machinery to clean water from roadways, residential areas, and other impacted areas. Authorities have also been instructed to clear blockages from sewers, culverts, and natural drainage channels in order to restore water flow.
The department stated that provisions had been made to provide safe drinking water, cooked meals, dry food, and illumination in the impacted areas. Local governments are also evacuating residents from vulnerable areas as necessary, while working closely with all departments involved in relief and rescue efforts.
Officials said the state government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, is continuously monitoring the flood situation, with the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Housing and Urban Development Department, and district administrations working together to ensure that affected people receive timely assistance.
