Bhubaneswar, July 31 (IANS) Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Friday chaired a high-level review meeting on the flood situation in the state with Collectors of flood-affected districts.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) and senior officials from various departments.
According to the latest official data, 1,362 villages, 446 Gram Panchayats, 57 blocks, and 11 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across 15 districts have been affected, impacting a total of 7,91,846 people. Of them, 2,68,943 people remain stranded in flood-affected areas, while crops on 21,380 hectares of farmland have been damaged by the floods.
Addressing the media after the meeting, the Minister said the flood situation has started improving in several districts as river water levels are gradually receding.
However, some low-lying areas continue to remain inundated, and the administration is closely monitoring the situation.
Minister Pujari said the water levels in the major rivers—Debi, Kushabhadra, Ib, Brahmani, Baitarani, Budhabalanga, Subarnarekha, Vansadhara, and Jalaka—which are flowing above the danger level, have started receding.
Adding that Odisha witnessed dry weather over the past 24 hours, the Revenue Minister said the flood situation is gradually improving as the state is likely to receive little or no rainfall over the next 24 hours, till August 1.
He added that water levels in the state’s major rivers have started falling, with the Mahanadi being the only river still in spate.
The Minister said the Water Resources Department opened 10 additional gates of the Hirakud Dam on Friday morning, taking the total number of open gates to 12.
He added that an additional 1.50 lakh cusecs of water will be released from the dam, which is expected to take around 40 hours to reach the Naraj Barrage in Kataka.
He expressed confidence that by the time the additional discharge reaches the Naraj Barrage, the water level, which is currently flowing above the danger mark, would have receded.
Minister Pujari also hoped that the water levels in the tributary rivers of the Mahanadi river are expected to decline over the next 48 hours.
However, district administrations in Kataka, Puri, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur and Khordha have been asked to remain on high alert to address the flood situation in case it worsens.
The Revenue Minister also told the reporters that the relief and rescue operations are continuing smoothly.
The Minister directed district administrations to complete the assessment of crop loss, livestock loss and damage to houses within 72 hours after floodwaters recede.
Based on the reports, the state government will provide compensation to all eligible beneficiaries without delay.
Minister Pujari also instructed the Drinking Water and Health departments to disinfect all drinking water sources, including wells and tube wells, and ensure the supply of safe drinking water in flood-hit areas to prevent the outbreak of water-borne diseases.
He also said that the relief centres, equipped with all essential supplies, including cooked food and dry rations, will continue to operate until the affected people are able to return to their homes after normalcy is fully restored.
Minister Pujari assured that the state government is continuously monitoring the situation and all departments have been directed to remain on high alert until normalcy is fully restored.
–IANS
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