Preparations on to combat flood or drought in Ganjam

In a bid to counter possible floods or drought in coming days, the administration in Ganjam district has started preparations and instructed all agencies concerned to work out contingency plans.
The engineers of the irrigation department have been directed to repair breaches before the onset of monsoon and stock enough sand bags to counter floods. The administration has identified 54 gram panchayats in 18 blocks as flood-prone, officials said.
"The engineers will keep a vigil on the weak left bank of river the Rushikulya, which is likely to develop breaches in case of flooding," said Ganjam Collector P C Chaudhary.

These were discussed at the meeting of district natural calamity committee at the district headquarters town of Chhatrapur. Forest and environment minister Bikram Keshari Arukh, higher education minister Pradeep Panigrahy and MP (Aska) Ladu Kishor Swain, besides district-level officers and several MLAs, attended.
"The collector asked engineers of drainage division and Berhampur Municipal Corporation commissioner to chalk out a plan for renovating Bahana Nullah in the town," said MLA (Berhampur) R C Chyaupatnaik. The nullah inundates several areas of the town during the monsoon.
The deputy director of agriculture will advise farmers of drought-prone areas to cultivate non-paddy crops. Engineers of minor irrigation and lift-irrigation facilities have been asked to prepare a contingency plan for providing water to farmers if such a situation arises, they said.

Check dams will be constructed at different points to ensure availability of water. Of the targeted 88 check dams, 44 have so far been constructed, they added.