Balasore/Aradi: The water level in Subarnarekha has been increasing while that of Budhabalanga and Jalaka is decreasing in Balasore.
But people living in riparian pockets are worried over weak spots in various embankments. They apprehend that in case of further rains, all such vulnerable points turn into breaches and their areas will be flooded.
The rising Subarnarekha has left the people in jitters because there are scores of vulnerable spots on embankments at Kotasahi, Gobardhanpur, Jamalpur, Sanaroutpada, Baiganbadia, Rela, Namkana, Chitamishra, Balikabad, Paikasida, Gadasahui, Baliapal, Paschimabarad, Chhotakhanpur, Mahulia, Tikayatpur, Sukhadukhia, and Belabaria.
Besides, people of Chakahari, Sikharpur, Rajnagar, Bhanupur, Mathuranath, Bazarshola, Gurudaspur, Srirampur, Praharajpur, Beherasahi, Malaipala, Munatunia, Olamara, Makidia, Kuanrpaur, Gobarghatta, Laxmannath, Gopa, Panchughanta, Sasanbad, Sekbada, Jhadeswarpur, Rajpur and Mohammednagar Patana and Sheikhsari voiced their concern over weak embankments, which may cave in with further increase in the water level of Subarnarekha.
They alleged that stone packing of embankments has not been done while spurs are not built along the river.
“The embankment from Rajnagar till Bichitrapur where the river merges into the sea is weak at several places,” they lamented.
The condition of another embankment from Makidia (Jaleswar) to Bhograi is also deplorable due to weak spots.
At some places, sand bags have been dumped as a temporary solution, but work at several other places has not been started.
Following a directive from the collector, an official of the Water Resources Department has started monitoring the embankments’ situation.
A team of ODRAF personnel has been kept ready at Rajghat for relief and rescue operation while six boats have been kept ready at Jaleswar. Rice, flattened rice and dry food have been stocked in the panchayat offices under Jaleswar block.
Meanwhile, reports from Aradi in Bhadrak said that Baitarani has started receiving floodwaters as heavy rains lashed the upper reaches of the river. However, its water level dropped Tuesday.
As the low-lying area at the confluence of Salandi and Baitarani is vulnerable to floods, Collector Gyanaranjan Das visited the place Tuesday.
At some places, sand sacks have been stacked against embankments as a deterrent against possible floods.
PNN