For the boundary wall of Laxmijore, a lot of area was saved during the unprecedented rains in Balangir on August 13, said Balangir MLA Narasingha Mishra speaking at a Press conference while clarifying the allegation that the Laxmijore project was responsible for the unprecedented flood in Balangir town.

The project aims to drain out the surplus water besides recharging the groundwater level of the town. Prior to the project, the water body was draining out 98 cusec of water. After the project was done, it  discharged 220 cusec.

However in the August 13 rainfall in which in a single day 555-mm rainfall was recorded, the excess amount of water overflowed and caused the flood fury Balangir, Mishra said.

The project has been duly approved by the Government agencies and experts; and in case of any shortcomings, it is the Government which is responsible. In case of any lapses in execution, officials should be taken to task. But one should not blame the project, Mishra opined.

"I have demanded a special flood relief package of Rs 1,000 crore be declared for Balangir," Mishra said.

Balangir town has been reeling under water crisis; and to solve it, the interlinking of water bodies and their renovation was required. For beautification of the Maharani Sagar, all encroachments have to be removed. The Central leaders have assured us to give money required for this project, said Mishra.

Even though after the unprecedented rainfall and flood Ministers of State and Central Governments visited this district and held review meeting, no assistance has been given to the affected people to rebuild their lives. Unless assistance is given after the Puja, people would take to streets and the Government would be held responsible for the situation, Mishra warned.

Even as many agricultural lands of  Upparjhar village in Deogan block were sand cast, neither the officials had done proper assessment nor any assistance was given to the victim farmers, he lamented.