During his one-day visit to the State on Thursday, senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Venkaiah Naidu expressed his displeasure over the ongoing relief and restoration works in the rural areas, and urged upon the State Government to constitute all-party committees at block, district and State levels to thwart discrimination and disturbance in the relief and restoration operations.
He also suggested that such committees should meet once in every month to review the progress of relief and rehabilitation programmes being carried out in the Phailin and floods-hit areas.
Naidu along with a host of State BJP leaders including State president KV Singh Deo, Juel Oram, national vice-president of BJP Kissan Morcha Rama Chandra Panda, Manmohan Samal and MP Hansraj visited some of the worst-affected areas of Ganjam district and interacted with the victims on Thursday.
Naidu visited the badly-affected villages like Arunpur and Podampetta under Ganjam block to assess the damage and take stock of the relief and restoration operations.
During his visit to these villages, he interacted with the fishermen and farmers who complained to him about the huge damages caused to a variety of crops like paddy, banana, coconut, cabbage, cauliflower, beetle, livestock, etc. The fishermen complained about their loss of boats and nets worth crores of rupees which have rendered them pauper. They rued that they have not yet received any compensation from the administration.
A large number of victims in most areas he visited lamented over the discriminate distribution of relief materials. From village Podampetta, Naidu went to Nua Golabandh, Gopalpur and Kaliaballi under Rangailunda block and listened to the grievances of the victims.
He also received a number of memoranda from the Phailin and flood-ravaged people urging him to impress upon the Government to provide immediate and adequate compensation to them.
After visiting Rambha, Humma, Palur, he also visited some of the most affected areas of Brahmapur city like lanjipalli to oversee the ongoing rehabilitation measures.
While speaking to the media here, Naidu said that we will soon submit a report regarding his visit and take up the issue of relief and rehabilitation in the ensuing session of the Parliament.
He further said that in view of the magnitude of damages and losses caused due to the twin disasters, the State alone cannot shoulder the entire burden; hence, Central assistance is badly needed to undertake the rehabilitation programmes in the affected areas.
He further said that there are widespread complaints about partisan distribution of relief materials and compensation packages and shying away of senior officers from visiting the affected villages which is adding to victims’ woes.
The State BJP also submitted a memorandum to Naidu demanding immediate restoration of power supply and communication networks to all the affected villages and to expedite relief and compensation to the affected farmers and fishermen of the district.