Pujari blames BJD’s ‘failure’ for flood

Bhubaneswar: Responding to Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik’s claim that the recent floods were “man-made,”Odisha minister Suresh Pujari on Thursday blamed the previous administration for the crisis. The Revenue and Disaster Management Minister attributed the disaster to the BJD’s failure to implement mitigation measures during its 24-year rule. However, according to officials, of the 11 deaths and six people reported missing following Cyclone Arnab, 10 people died in landslides in Ganjam and Kandhamala districts, while one man was swept away in floodwaters in Gajapati district.

Pujari said, “I have high regard for Naveen Babu, who was the chief minister for 24 years. But do you have any answer on the loss of human lives in calamities during the BJD tenure?” The flood management by the Mohan Charan Majhi government is certainly the best in the recent past, as no human casualties were reported in Cyclone Arnab and the floods, except in landslides, he told reporters.

“As many as 9,866 people died in the 1999 Super Cyclone during the Congress period. Seventy-two people lost their lives in Cyclone Titli, 45 in Cyclone Phailin, and 65 in Fani under the BJD tenure,” Pujari said. He said the Majhi government has faced three cyclones—Dana, Mantha and Arnab—during its 28 months in office.

Pujari stated that there is currently no scientific method to forecast or predict landslides in India. “However, we are undertaking studies on such incidents to prevent future human casualties,” he noted. He also rejected the Opposition’s allegations of a “man-made flood” in Ganjam, adding that the State government is prepared for a detailed debate when the Assembly convenes on November 18. Furthermore, Pujari alleged that despite remaining in power for nearly 25 years, the previous BJD government failed to implement adequate, long-term solutions for floods and other natural disasters.