Flood Update IX from Water Initiatives Odisha

Flood Update IX from Water Initiatives Odisha

25^th September 2011

Flood situation in Northern Odisha rivers still grim

Dear Friends/Co-sailors,

The flood woes of Northern Odisha rivers have worsened since we sent our 8^th Flood Update on 23^rd September. As per the latest report available from govt. sources, 8 districts (Anugl, Balasore, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Kendrapada and Mayurbhanj) have been affected by the latest spell of the disaster. However, what the govt. report misses out is the flood in Sundergarh and Deogarh districts. Media houses and other sources have reported massive flood damages in these two districts too.

As we compile this update at 2 pm on 25^th September, 2011, the latest update on Floods released by the Orissa State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) mentions that more than 1.5 million people have been affected by these floods; 7 people have died and more than 3 lakh livestock have been affected. What is important to note here is that, in the earlier spell of floods, the final report for which was compiled and released by the Govt. the total livestock damage was only 1667. However, this time it has crossed more than 3 lakhs. The number of marooned villages has been put at 992. While 2362 villages in 510 Gram Panchayats of 46 Blocks of the 8 reported districts have been affected; the urban habitations affected have been reported at 47 Wards in 8 Urban Local Bodies. You can get the complete list at http://www.osdma.org/Download/Flood_2011Update_Status_240911.pdf. However, we are sure; the real figure of damages is much more since the OSDMA report does not take into account the affected figures in Sundergarh and Deogarh districts.

As the rivers of Northern Odisha flood yet again, the debate around Flood Control and Management abilities of Dams have resurfaced. In the LEAD section of this Update, we have given some basic analysis of how the Rengali dam has not been properly managed and we have argued how it has become UTMOST ESSENTIAL to prepare a Flood Management Policy for the government that takes care of several integrated issues like sound flood forecasting, river basin management pithing in co-ordinated action with people and states involved, and the need for Flood Plain management. While we keep the note in the LEAD section brief, a detailed note on the Rengali dam and flood management has been attached to this update.

Then we have our regular NEWS, STATS and METSPEAKS sections in this short update.

Once again, we would like to inform you that, at the moment, it’s occasional and we may come up with these updates as and when we can, given our limited manpower and resources. However, with your inputs and support, we are sure; we shall be able to ensure regular flow of this update.

We request you to send in your reports of activities, your views; and any other interesting and relevant article, books, photographs, and anything that you feel we should cover in this Update. It’s YOU who is the most important FUEL of this effort.

This Update is also available at:

http://climatecrusaders.blogspot.com/2011/09/flood-update-ix-of-2011-on-odisha.html

and

http://www.scribd.com/doc/66271406/Flood-Update-IX-From-WIO-25th-September-2011

Look forward to listen from you and your continued support.

Thanks and regards,

Ranjan Panda

Convenor, Water Initiatives Odisha

STOP PRESS: By the time we despatch this Update, reports had started coming in from govt. sources that the flood devastation has affected about 2.2 million people already. The loss of live has been counted at 17 and affected livestock has already gone up to more than 4 lakh. We shall post the detailed information in our next update.

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