Bhubaneswar: The Opposition BJD on Thursday accused the BJP government of failing to tackle the flood situation in Jajpur district and alleged discrimination in distribution of relief among affected villagers. The ruling BJP rejected the charges, claiming relief is being provided as per norms.
The flood situation in Jajpur district remained grim with the Baitarani river and its tributaries in spate, leaving 62 villages inundated in Dasarathpur block alone. Addressing a press conference, three BJD MLAs from the district — Pramila Mallik (Binjharpur), Sujata Sahu (Jajpur) and Biswaranjan Mallik (Bari) — said flood-affected people are disappointed as they have remained surrounded by water for over a month.
Opposition Chief Whip Pramila Mallik alleged that whatever little relief material is being sent is not being distributed through the district administration but by local BJP leaders.
“The worst-affected Bari, Binjharpur and Jajpur constituencies have suffered extensive damage, but are being ignored because they are represented by BJD MLAs,” Mallik, a seven-time MLA, claimed.
“Even after 26 days, several areas remain waterlogged. There is no visible urgency on the part of the government,” she alleged, adding that had advance preparations been made as during Naveen Patnaik’s tenure, breaches would not have occurred in Bari, Binjharpur and Dasarathpur.
She said there was inordinate delay in delivering dry food, cattle feed and other relief materials even after water entered residential areas. On Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s visit, Mallik said, “The CM travelled by boat and took photographs, but did not understand people’s difficulties. We had gone to inform him about the problems, but we were humiliated.”
Bari MLA Biswaranjan Mallik said the CM did not visit Bari, one of the worst-hit areas, during his inspection. Similarly, Deputy CM Pravati Parida also skipped Bari.
“Relief materials from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund reached in trucks but were not handed over to the district administration. Nobody knows where they went. Some local BJP leaders distributed them in certain areas and uploaded photos on social media,” he alleged, adding that losses suffered by farmers have not been assessed.
Jajpur MLA Sujata Sahu said Dasarathpur has been flooded six times in the last 36 days and around 53,000 people still remain surrounded by water. “The Government has failed to rescue and rehabilitate them,” she alleged.
Rejecting the allegations, BJP spokesperson Manoj Mishra said, “There is no discrimination as alleged by the BJD. People are being provided relief materials as per the norms of the relief code.”
