Even as the State Government came under mounting criticism on Thursday for utterly failing to ensure requisite relief and rehabilitation measures for the victims of cyclone and floods, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Surjya Narayan Patro termed the allegations as politics on the part of the opposition parties.
Instead of dealing with the specific allegations, Patro “appealed” to the Opposition parties to cooperate with the administration in its bid to help people get relief material. “If they have any problem, they can directly contact the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), District Collectors and me,” the Minister said.
The Congress, the BJP and other Opposition parties have been accusing the Government of failing to provide relief to cyclone and flood victims and indulging more in self-propaganda than work at ground level.
Pradesh Congress Committee president Jayadev Jena and leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Bhupinder Singh alleged that the State Government has miserably failed in carrying out relief operations effective, particularly in the worst cyclone-hit Ganjam district and the floods-affected districts of Bhadrak, Baleswar, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur and Kendrapada.
People are yet to get relief in many areas even four days after the cyclone and the Government has failed to restore supply of electricity and water, they alleged. The CPI State secretary Dibakar Nayak demanded immediate steps for restoration of electricity and water supply in the areas affected by the cyclone and the resultant floods.