Bhubaneswar, Nov 11 (UDN): Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg on Wednesday rejected allegations that the recent floods in Ganjam district were man-made, attributing the disaster to an unprecedented spell of heavy rainfall that continued for three consecutive days.
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Addressing a press conference at Lok Seva Bhawan, Garg defended the state government’s handling of the situation amid mounting criticism from Opposition parties over alleged lapses in flood management and reservoir operations.
She said the intensity and duration of the rainfall were exceptional, with several locations in Ganjam recording their highest-ever precipitation levels.
Citing the example of Patrapur block, the Chief Secretary said it received an extraordinary 546 mm of rainfall in a single day, surpassing the rainfall recorded during Cyclone Phailin in 2013.
Patrapur had recorded 89 mm of rainfall on the preceding day and another 173 mm on the following day, taking the three-day total to an exceptionally high level. Garg said the rainfall during the recent spell was around 65 per cent higher than that recorded during Phailin.
Unlike Phailin, which brought intense rainfall largely over a single day, the latest spell continued for three days, significantly aggravating the flood situation, she explained.
Government Rejects Allegations of Dam Mismanagement
Responding to questions about reservoir operations and the release of water from dams, Garg said only around 10 per cent of the total water from the catchment areas of the Rushikulya and Bahuda rivers enters the reservoirs. The remaining 90 per cent flows directly into the rivers and cannot be regulated through dam operations.
She maintained that water was released from the reservoirs in accordance with established protocols after engineers assessed the inflow and prevailing conditions.
On allegations that more dam gates had been opened, Garg said dam safety remained the administration’s top priority. Gate operations were carried out in phases, depending on water inflow and in line with standard procedures, she added.
Asked about allegations raised by former Chief Secretary Suresh Mohapatra, Garg said a Central team had already submitted its report, attributing the situation to unprecedented rainfall.
Restoration Work Underway
The Chief Secretary said no loss of life had been reported in the natural calamity. She added that restoration of essential services, including electricity and drinking water, had been carried out on a priority basis.
Most damaged infrastructure in the affected areas has also been restored, while the administration continues to provide relief and necessary assistance to affected residents.
Garg’s remarks come amid an ongoing political debate over the causes of the Ganjam floods, with the state government maintaining that the exceptional rainfall, rather than administrative or dam-management failures, was responsible for the situation.