Central teams visits cyclone, flood ravaged areas

Two separate Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCT) visited different cyclone and flood ravaged areas in Ganjam, Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts of Odisha for the second day today.
In Ganjam, the seven-member team visited Gopalpur, Chhatrapur, Ganjam, Rambha and Chamakahndi areas to assess the damage caused by the twin natural calamities in the district.
The team led by a joint-secretary of Union Ministry of Home reached the district yesterday. It visited Kanishi, Berhampur University and several areas of Berhampur town on the first day of its visit.
However, several cyclone and flood affected people were perturbed saying the Central team did not interact with them about their loss.

"We wanted to tell them about our miseries, but the team did not get down to witness the scene of devastation in our area, when they visited Berhampur town," said Mamata Bisoi, a corporator in Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Several legislators of the district were also keen to meet the team to narrate the real devastation caused due to the nature's fury and sufferings of the people. The team, however, turned down their request, they alleged.

"We had requested the team through the district administration to discuss with its members. The team members, however, turned down the request," said MLA (Gopalpur) Pradip Panigrahi. "When the team members did not interact with the real victims, how can they know the real loss of the affected people," said MLA (Berhampur) R.Ch Chyauptanik.

The team members, however, held discussion with the district administration about the damage and loss caused in the natural calamities.
Another team, led by Sanjay Lohia, joint secretary in Agriculture Ministry, visited Baripada town and several villages in Shyamakhunta and Badasahi blocks which were flooded by Budhabalang and Palapala rivers.
The team members met the villagers who demanded permanent measures to deal with floods in these rivers. They also sought alternative livelihood measures as their crops were destroyed in the calamity.
"We saw damage of several kutcha houses, inundation of Revenue Inspector's office and waterlogging in PDS godown," said Lohia.

In Balasore, the team visited Remuna and Balasore Sadar blocks and met people of different villages besides inspecting NH-60 after locals alleged that they were facing severe waterlogging because of the highway.
Revenue Divisional Commissioner (central), Aravind Padhee said the state Government would soon send a memo to the Centre seeking quick steps for construction of channels through the highway to facilitate release of water as a permanent solution.