By IANS,
Bhubaneswar: Orissa Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare has asked the state government to investigate the alleged mismanagement of Hirakud dam which, according to the opposition, triggered massive floods last month, an official said Wednesday.
The move came after some experts and opposition parties alleged that the disaster, which killed over 80 people and disrupted lives of five million others in 21 of the state’s 30 districts, could have been avoided.
“He (the governor) has suggested a committee to be formed under the chairmanship of a former CWC (central water commission) chief,” S.C. Mohapatra, secretary of the state water resources department, told IANS.
“He has written a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in this regard,” Mohapatra said.
The state witnessed two rounds of floods in September. The first one was caused by heavy rains for several days and discharge of huge amount of water from Hirakud dam in Sambalpur district.
The second round was triggered by heavy rains and overflowing of Brahmani, Baitarani and Budhabalanga rivers.
The worst-hit districts were Jajpur, Kendrapada and Puri where thousands continue to live in makeshift homes, on embankments and roads.