Opposition questions Odisha government over floods and reservoir management in Ganjam

According to a report by the Hindustan Times, serious questions have been raised regarding the state government's reservoir management and disaster management following the severe flood situation in Odisha's Ganjam district caused by Cyclone Arnab. Following the heavy rains after the cyclone struck on 28 October, approximately 1.5 lakh people have been affected by the floods in the Rushikulya river. Reports of loss of life have also emerged in this incident, though the final assessment of the damage is still ongoing.

Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, terming these floods as 'man-made'. After visiting the flood-affected area, Patnaik alleged that sufficient aid has not been provided to the victims. On the other hand, former Chief Secretary Suresh Mahapatra has also questioned on social media whether sufficient steps were taken to reduce the water levels in the reservoirs before the cyclone. He stated that there was enough time to reduce the water levels in the reservoirs after the weather department's forecast, as the reservoirs were filled to 65% to 80% of their capacity at that time.

Responding to these allegations, State Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari stated that the extremely heavy rainfall over three days put immense pressure on the river system and the district's limited reservoirs. Between 27 and 29 October, an average of 338.74 mm of rainfall was recorded in Ganjam, which is nearly 80% more than the normal October rainfall of 187.9 mm. This rainfall has been noted to be even higher than that during the 1990 floods, the 2013 Cyclone Phailin, and the 2018 floods. Patrapur block received 546 mm of rainfall in a single day, while areas including Sorada also experienced heavy rain.

Due to the sloping terrain of the Eastern Ghats, the water flow merged rapidly into the rivers, causing the Rushikulya and its tributaries to swell. On 29 October, the Rushikulya river was carrying 6,908 cumecs of water, which was nearly double its capacity of 3,500 cumecs. At Purushottampur, the river's water level crossed the danger mark by 3 meters, reaching 19 meters. The India Meteorological Department issued the first warning on 23 October and subsequently declared a red alert for 27 to 29 October.

This issue has become politically significant ahead of the upcoming panchayat elections. Ganjam district is the most populous district of Odisha and has been a stronghold of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). However, in the 2024 elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) brought a major change by winning 11 out of 13 assembly seats and both Lok Sabha seats in the district. Now, this flood situation is becoming a major test for the government's performance.