Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday visited worst flood-affected areas in Jajpur district and took stock of the damage caused to paddy crops and houses.
The Chief Minister directed the District Collector to assess the damage caused to standing paddy crops and submit a detailed report for consideration of compensation. He also asked the officials to conduct a thorough survey of the areas and ensure that no flood affected patch was left.
While Patnaik was taking stock of the damage caused to the paddy crops at Panasa, the locals demanded construction of a bund on the banks of the river, besides compensation for losses.
Many marooned farmers gathered at Panasa to describe their sorry plight. But the police and officials prevented them to meet the Chief Minister. Many villagers, who had been brought from various areas by the district administration to attend the Chief Minister’s meeting, fretted after they could not meet the latter to air their grievances.
“The Chief Minister should have interacted with the affected people to get a true picture of the losses they have suffered and know their plight,” said Rabindra Sethi of Panasa village.
“We have already been ruined by the devastating floods. From farmers we have become beggars. How long will the Government provide us reliefIJ I’m worried about what will happen after relief is stopped. Where will I go with my seven-member familyIJ asked Rabindra.
As many as 420 villages of 81 panchayats in six blocks have been affected in the flood. The authorities opened 50 free kitchens to provide food to the victims at various relief centres. The flood also ruined 44,408 hectares of paddy and 40,763 hectares of agricultural lands.
Chief Minister also reviewed the flood situation and its aftermath at a meeting at Jajpur town. Panchayati Raj Minister Kalpataru Das, Sukinda MlA Prafulla Ghadai, Korei MlA Pritiranjan Ghadai , Jajpur MlA Pranab Das, Bari MlA Debasis Nayak and Collector Anil Samal, among others, were present. Some farmers showed damaged paddy crops to the Chief Minister during his visit.Patnaik also visited the flood-affected areas of the adjoining Bhadrak district and made a review of the situation with district officials.