Crop In Over 8,800 Hectare Land Damaged For Rain In Odisha’s Koraput & Malkangiri, Says Minister

Bhubaneswar: Crop in 8,830 hectare cultivable land have been waterlogged due to heavy rain due to deep depression in Odisha’s Koraput and Malkangiris disricts, said Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari.

Speaking to media persons after holding a review meeting on the flood situation in Malkangiri on Thursday, Pujari said total 21 houses have been damaged and 576 houses partially damaged. Around 15 roads have also been damaged due to flood water.

“I want to assure the people of the affected areas in the two districts that the district administration and voluntary organisations would extend all possible help in the relief works. Six ODRAF and five Fire Brigade teams have been engaged in the rescue operation. Due to the cooperation of these teams besides district officials and police personnel, not a single casualty has been reported due to the rain and subsequent flood in the two districts,” he said.

Earlier, Pujari along with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and chief secretary visited the flood affected areas in Malkangiri and held a review meeting with district officials.

Pujari said the Metallurgical Survey of India had alerted Odisha government about deep depression over Bay of Bengal and heavy rain on its effect. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had also talked to the Chief Minister about the forecast and preparedness. Home secretaries of the Central and state governments held discussion on the possible flood-like situation.

“The Centre had assured all possible help if the situation warranted. While ODRAF was kept on alert, NDRAF was also prepared to extend help if necessary. BSF was put on standby to help in rescue and rehabilitation operation. Besides, the Centre had told that adequate umber of helicopters would be provided for distribution of relief materials,” the minister said.

Disaster Management department had informed the officials of districts to be affected by the depression sufficiently ahead of the rain. As a result, the districts had taken adequate precautionary measures to prevent loss of lives and properties. Since the state machineries and officials managed the situation, the state did not seek help from the Central agencies, he added.

He further said the government will now undertake a survey to assess the damages to crop and houses. “We will provide compensation to the persons whose houses and crop have been damaged as per Odisha Relief Code. The districts have been directed to keep medicines and necessary item in sufficient quantity in stock,” he added.