Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Saturday visited several flood-affected areas of Ganjam district, including Sheragada, Hinjilicut, Aska and Sorada, and urged the state government to provide immediate relief and compensation to affected families and farmers.
During the visit, Patnaik assessed the damage caused by the recent floods, reviewed relief, rescue and rehabilitation measures, and interacted with affected residents, farmers and local traders. Thousands of people gathered at different locations to apprise him of their hardships and losses.
Farmers expressed resentment over the government’s handling of the flood situation, displaying damaged paddy crops and sugarcane plants. Several residents whose houses were destroyed and livelihoods affected also narrated their plight.
“After visiting four different flood-affected areas of Ganjam district, including my own constituency, I have seen from close quarters the suffering and misery of flood-hit families and farmers. They are passing through extremely difficult times. They need immediate assistance at this hour,” Patnaik said.
Urging the state government to ensure adequate compensation and relief, he said the pain and suffering of flood-affected people should not be ignored.
Patnaik first visited Sheragada town and adjoining flood-hit areas, where residents apprised him of damage to houses, agricultural land and roads. He subsequently visited Nuaburupada Gram Panchayat in Hinjilicut block and other affected areas in the constituency to assess the impact on livelihoods.
In Aska, he inspected Kotinada near Aska Science College and flood-hit areas of the town and its outskirts. He later visited Kandhuni Devi field at Tatabali and the Baligocha area in Sorada block, where farmers and residents briefed him on crop losses and post-flood difficulties.
The BJD president stressed the need for proper damage assessment, adequate compensation to farmers, assistance to affected families and restoration of damaged infrastructure.
Local traders’ associations of Aska and Sheragada also submitted memoranda to Patnaik, highlighting the losses suffered by businesses due to the floods.
Patnaik had been monitoring the flood situation in Ganjam and Gajapati districts since the India Meteorological Department issued a red warning for heavy rainfall in Ganjam on October 23. He remained in touch with the Ganjam Collector, while the situation was also monitored from Naveen Niwas, with particular attention to the affected areas of Hinjilicut and Sheragada.
Several senior BJD leaders accompanied Patnaik during the tour, including Debi Prasad Mishra, Pratap Jena, Usha Devi, Bikram Panda, Chandrasekhar Sahu, Ramesh Chandra Chyau Patnaik, Bhrugu Baxipatra, Pranab Balabantaray, Rupesh Panigrahi, Chinmayananda Srirupa Deb, Srikanta Sahu and Lenin Mohanty, among others.
