The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Geared to tackle flood situation, says Minister

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Sunday, Jul 01, 2007
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Geared to tackle flood situation, says Minister

Special Correspondent

Communication hit at many places

Warning signal: As fishermen did not venture into the sea, boats are seen on the Puri beach.

BHUBANESWAR: Interior regions of Orissa continued to experience heavy rain on Saturday even as the deep depression moved in a west-northwesterly direction and weakened into a depression and lay centered over east Madhya Pradesh and adjoining Chhattisgarh.

Although the system was likely to move in a northwesterly direction and weaken gradually, heavy rain during the past couple of days had caused floods to several rivers in the State.

The issue of the damage caused by the depression was also discussed in the State Assembly on Saturday.

In his reply to the an adjournment motion on the issue, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Manmohan Samal said that heavy rains to Kalahandi had caused floods to Tel, Hati and Mundara rivers and affected communication at several locations.

Stating that there was danger of the State witnessing heavy floods as the depression had weakened, the Minister, however, said that the administration was fully geared to cope with emergency situations.

The units of Disaster Rapid Action Force were kept ready at Puri, Cuttack, Koraput, Chhatrapur, Jharsuguda and Balasore and they will swing into action if need arises, Mr. Samal said. The damages caused by heavy rainfall at various places were being ascertained, the Minister said.

According to the Water Resources Department, heavy to very heavy rain occurred at a few places over both upper and lower Mahanadi and heavy rainfall occurred at isolated places over Rushikulya and Vansadhara catchments. Rain was also recorded at most places over Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga and lower Brahman and at many places over Baitarani, upper Brahmani catchments. Heavy rain was likely to occur at isolated places over both upper and lower Mahanadi catchments during next 48 hours.

Although water level in no river had touched the danger level at the gauge stations, reports indicated that water level was rising in Mahanadi, Baitarani, Budhabalanga and Rushikulya.

Reports from Malkangiri districts said that the water level was rising in several small rivers in the district.

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