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State blamed for floods

Bhubaneswar: Alleging that recent flood in Orissa was “man-made” to divert attention from the Kandhamal issue, Congress leaders on Sunday said Naveen Patnaik government has “failed” to manage water storage at Hirakud dam on Mahanadi river and maintain embankments in its delta region.

“I hold the BJD-BJP government fully responsible and guilty for the devastating flood for which they will have to pay heavy price,” Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly and Congress leader J.B. Patnaik told reporters here.

His party colleague and former State minister Nalinikanta Mohanty went a step further and alleged that “the flood was totally man-made. It was created to divert people’s attention from Kandhamal violence”.

Both Patnaik and Mohanty said flood in Mahanadi system could have been checked by proper monitoring and regulating water position in Hirakud, the aim of which is primarily of flood control while irrigation and power generation are incidental, and by maintaining numerous embankments.

Instead of draining out water much earlier despite warning about heavy rains due to low pressure, authorities maintained water-level at dam’s full capacity of 630 feet for a long time and suddenly released 46 gates to release huge water . - PTI

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