Bhubaneswar: State BJP leaders Wednesday slammed the BJD government alleging it has failed to provide compensation and rehabilitation to the Titli cyclone and flood-affected victims. The salvo came after several leaders of the party made a field visit to the affected areas.
A five-member team of the state BJP led by MLA Pradeep Purohit and MLA Rabi Naik Tuesday visited the areas and met with the people to assess the damage and inspect relief work undertaken by the state government.
Besides Naik and Purohit, Lekhashree Samantsinghar, Golak Mohapatra and Thakur Ranjit Dash were also part of the team. The team visited several places in both Ganjam and Gajapatai district.
Speaking to reporters here at a presser, Purohit said, “Even after 45 days of cyclone Titli, many parts of Chikiti in Ganjam district continue to be disconnected from administration and development. Relief materials are yet to reach those villages.”
The government has not made proper assessment of crop damage while people are living in the cold as their houses were completely damaged in the calamities. However, no relief has reached them, he alleged.
All houses of Mada village of Raigada block in Gajapati district were completely destroyed in the cyclone and people are staying in the school building, Purohit said.
The BJD government is claiming that they have distributed Rs 831 crore from State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) to the affected people. However, he said, the reality is that some people have received only Rs 1,000 while some others got Rs 2,000 along with 50 kg rice.
Roads are damaged and houses are destroyed. With the advent of winter people don’t have houses to stay in nor electricity or drinking water. State government announced restoration of the services within 24 hours, but nothing has happened even after 45 days, said Naik.
The state has over Rs 1,000 crore in its SDRF, of which 90 per cent is being provided by the Centre, the BJP leader said.
Alleging gross irregularities have been committed in the distribution of relief materials, the BJP demanded that the government publish how much money has been given to which people.
Reacting to the allegations, BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb said, “The statement of BJP is not acceptable and not based on fact and truth. They (BJP) should first make their stand clear on whether the statement of Central team is right or they are right.”
While visiting the state, the Central team had lauded the efforts made by the state government on post-cyclone relief and restoration work.
As per distribution of relief is concerned, the government has provided Rs 225 crore from SDRF to Gajapati district, of which Rs 134 crore has been distributed to the affected people and the process is still going on, Deb said.
The BJD leader further said, “The government has also started long-term restoration work including damaged infrastructure and public properties.”