Rawat: Lets develop a system to avoid flood

BHUBANESWAR: Union Minister of State for Agriculture Harish Rawat on Saturday said there is a need for greater coordination between Chhattisgarh and Orissa governments for better management of water in  Hirakud dam to avoid floods in future. Rawat, who visited different flood-affected districts, said a lot of people complained to him that the recent flood is manmade. But Rawat did not take any position on the issue and said he will take up the matter with the Central Water Commission (CWC) so that such situations can be avoided in future. “As a representative of the Central Government, I have not reached any conclusion on the matter,” he said. But some mechanism will have to be developed so that there will not be situations when suddenly the dam authorities have to open 59 gates.Stating that the situation in Nimapara and Gop blocks in Puri district is very serious as affected people are not getting sufficient drinking water, the minister asked the State Government to take immediate steps in this regard.  Besides, immediate measures are needed for stopping spread of epidemic in these areas, he said.  Rawat said he has asked the State Government to take steps for drainage of the water from Gop and Nimapara areas by bringing the work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).  Describing the situation in the affected areas as ‘worrying’, the minister said polythene is yet to be provided to the people living under open sky at many places. Rawat said he has asked the State Government to provide relief to the affected with the available funds.  The State Government should complete the memorandum and submit it to the Centre so that the inter-ministerial team can assess the damage properly, Rawat said, adding that a team from the Agriculture Ministry will also visit the affected areas to assess crop damage and recommend measures to assist the farmers for rabi crop. Helicopters were promptly provided for air-dropping food and `154 crore was made available to Orissa under the Calamity Relief Fund in August, he said, rejecting allegations often levelled by the ruling BJD of Central negligence.