Kendrapara: Scars of the floods in river Luna, a tributary of river Mahanadi, which had left a trail of devastation in Marshaghai and Garadapur blocks of this district in 2006, are still fresh in the minds of some people here.
One of the flood victims is Langulicharan Muduli, a resident of Bachharai under Marshaghai block, whose three-storied building on Marshaghai-Silipur road had collapsed following a breach in the river.
Languli is reported to have borrowed Rs 6 lakh from Kendrapara ICICI Bank to construct his house in 2005. He also resided in the building for a year before a breach occurred near Basapur during floods in river Luna.
The floodwater later entered the Marshaghai canal and inundated several acres of land. There was no facility to release floodwater at that time as the Hindustan Construction company which was engaged by the NHAI to expand the National Highway 5(A) and the highway had obstructed the floodwater release point.
Consequently, the floodwater had made a breach near Languli’s house on Silipur-Marshaghai road and his building along with the house of his neighbour Satyabhama Jena caved in September 2, 2006.
The Bharatiya Kishan Sangh came forward to help flood victim Languli Charan Muduli and had alleged that the NHAI and Hindustan Construction company should be taken to task for the destruction r caused by floods. The Kishan Sangh also demanded a relief of Rs 50 lakh to Langulicharan Muduli.
Later, the district administration provided an assistance of Rs 10,000 as per relief code to Muduli.
Muduli moved the High Court in 2007 (7437/2007) and the case is still sub-judice. Meanwhile, the ICICI Bank has directed Muduli to deposit Rs 26 lakh including the interest for the loan.
However, Muduli alleged the concerned bank had not insured the house and has been forcing him to repay the loan and interest amounting to Rs 26 lakh.
“Now, I am a worried man. How do I repay the loan and its interest. Meanwhile, in order to bring the land back to its previous shape, I need Rs 2 lakh more. Due to funds crunch, the old house remains in a dilapidated stage 13 years after the floods,“ rues Muduli.
PNN