Cyclone Arnab Aftermath / Ganjam floods caused by heavy rainfall, not dam mismanagement: Odisha Govt

Bhubaneswar, Nov 10: The Water Resources Department of the Odisha government on Tuesday ruled out allegations of human-induced factors behind the recent floods in Ganjam district, stating that the flooding was primarily caused by excessive rainfall and not by any lapses in dam management, officials said.

Addressing a press conference here, Dillip Kumar Rout, Chief Engineer of the Water Resources Department, said all dams in the district were operated in a timely manner and that no error had occurred in reservoir management during the flood situation.

Heavy rainfall

According to the department, the unprecedented spell of rainfall was the primary reason behind the floods that affected large parts of Ganjam district. Officials asserted that reservoir operations were carried out as required and that flood-management measures were implemented at the appropriate time.

Rout said the Dhanei and Sorada dams were not under the direct management of the Water Resources Department, rejecting suggestions that the department's handling of water resources had contributed to the flooding.

Dam operations defended

The department stated that water levels in several reservoirs across the district remained at moderate levels prior to the onset of continuous rainfall. Officials also noted that similar reservoir conditions had been witnessed during past extreme weather events, including Cyclone Phailin.

Necessary precautionary and management measures, comparable to those adopted during earlier severe weather events, were taken to manage the situation, the Chief Engineer said.

BJD criticism

The department's clarification came hours after Leader of Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik criticised the State government's preparedness in handling Cyclone Arnab and the subsequent flood situation in Ganjam.

In a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Patnaik described the floods as a "man-made crisis", alleging administrative lapses and calling for accountability. He further alleged that warnings issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) since October 23 were not acted upon adequately.
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Damage estimate

The Water Resources Department has submitted a report to the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) estimating flood-related damage within its jurisdiction in Ganjam at Rs334 crore.

Reiterating the department's position, Rout said the flooding was the result of exceptionally heavy rainfall and not shortcomings in dam operations, adding that all reservoirs in the district had been opened at the appropriate time based on prevailing conditions.