A sharp political war of words has erupted in Odisha over the recent devastating floods in Ganjam district, with Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari hitting back at the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday.
Blaming the previous regime’s “24 years of failure” for failing to build long-term flood resilience, Pujari rejected former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s characterisation of the disaster as a “manmade crisis.”
Addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar on flood management, Pujari asserted that the former BJD administration had neglected sustainable, long-term measures to mitigate recurring natural disasters during its two-and-a-half decades in power. In contrast, he said, the current government is looking beyond immediate rescue and relief by collaborating with premier institutions, including several Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Experts are being roped in to scientifically assess the root causes of flooding, overhaul drainage networks, and improve river management to minimise future risks.
Turning the tables on the Opposition’s criticism of disaster preparedness, Pujari pointed to casualty figures from major cyclones during the BJD’s tenure, citing 72 deaths during Cyclone Titli and 65 during Cyclone Fani to question the previous government’s track record.
Explaining the trigger behind the Ganjam inundation—which followed heavy rainfall driven by the remnants of Cyclone Arnab—the minister stated that the administration had prepared strictly in accordance with India Meteorological Department (IMD) predictions. However, exceptionally intense downpours between October 28 and October 30 overwhelmed the region. While Ganjam district as a whole recorded 337.6 mm of rain over the three-day span, Patrapur block bore the brunt with a staggering 808.4 mm, including 546 mm in a single 24-hour period—marking the highest single-day rainfall in Odisha in 35 years. To expedite on-ground relief and response, the state government deployed eight ministers to oversee operations across the affected pockets.
Pujari’s remarks come on the heels of a scathing attack by Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik, who had termed the Ganjam floods a “manmade crisis”. Patnaik accused the state machinery of violating standard operating procedures (SOPs), alleging that authorities failed to monitor dam levels round-the-clock and released reservoir water only after heavy cyclonic rains had already begun, thereby worsening the flooding and damage to life and property.
Dismissing the allegations as baseless, Pujari threw down the gauntlet to BJD legislators ahead of the upcoming Odisha Assembly session. While acknowledging that questioning the government is the Opposition’s democratic right, he challenged MLAs to substantiate their claims with official documents and evidence on the floor of the House, asserting that the government is fully prepared to respond with verified records and data.
