BHADRAK: A large number of flood victims had to return disappointed after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik flew back to Bhubaneswar without interacting with them on Wednesday. A number of villagers had gathered at Kantighai under Bhandaripokhari block to discuss their plight with Naveen. However, the Chief Minister after arriving at Kantighai - where the longest breach had occurred due to the recent flood in the Baitarini - halted for just 20 minutes and left without interacting with the affected people who were waiting for him since morning. Over 25,000 people of four panchayats - Malada, Solampur, Rahania and Kurigan - have been badly affected due to breach at Kantighai. Over 75 per cent houses have been damaged and two persons killed in these panchayats.“The scale of damage in these four panchayats is high due to the Kantighai breach and 1,000 people are rendered homeless,” said Narayan Samal, a retired teacher of Malada village under Malada panchayat. The affected people alleged that no relief material has been provided to them yet. The district administration, however, said the Chief Minister had come to just see the 500-metre-long Kantighai breach.Kantighai embankment was constructed in 1984 for easy passage of flood water. However, due to lack of repair and renovation, it breaches almost every year. This time, the embankment breached for 500 metres affecting villagers of Bhandaripokhari block. “The Chief Minister held talks with officials and advised them to take all measures to construct the embankment again and promised required financial aid,” said Suryakant Padhi, the District Emergency Officer.
Comments
0 comment