A sharp political confrontation has erupted in Odisha over the recent floods in Ganjam district following Cyclone Arnab, with the ruling BJP and Opposition parties trading accusations of mismanagement and long-term neglect.
The row intensified after BJD president and Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik wrote to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi describing the floods as a “man-made crisis.” Patnaik alleged that authorities failed to monitor reservoir levels and release water in advance despite IMD warnings, with delayed opening of dam gates worsening flooding downstream.
Senior officials, including Chief Secretary Anu Garg and Water Resources Engineer-in-Chief Dillip Kumar Rout, have rejected claims of lapses. They attribute the devastation to unprecedented rainfall—Ganjam recorded about 337.6 mm over three days (October 28–30), while Patrapur block alone received 808.4 mm, including a staggering 546 mm in a single day. They noted that the central team’s assessment aligned with state data and that reservoirs cover only a small portion of the catchment area.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Thursday strongly countered the Opposition, holding the previous 24-year BJD government responsible for the lack of long-term flood-control infrastructure, river management, and dam systems in Ganjam. He said preparations were made based on IMD forecasts, but rainfall far exceeded predictions. The minister highlighted the government’s zero-casualty priority (with some deaths attributed to landslides rather than floods), the deployment of eight ministers for oversight, ongoing discussions with IITs for future strategies, and planned studies on landslides in Kandhamal and Gajapati. He cited past casualties under BJD rule—45 deaths during Phailin (2013), 72 during Titli (2018), and 65 during Fani—and said the current government is ready for full debates when the Assembly session begins on November 18.
BJD MLA Dr. Arun Sahu reacted strongly, challenging the minister to an open debate at Lower PMG. “History will never forgive the government. History is written with facts, not clever words. In the last two-and-a-half years, people of Ganjam have seen flooding they never witnessed in 25 years—this is the reality,” he said. Sahu contrasted past cyclone responses under BJD (Phailin, Hudhud, Titli) with the current situation and alleged that while the government focused elsewhere during Cyclone Arnab, Ganjam was submerged.
Senior Congress leader Santosh Singh Saluja also questioned the government, stating that despite IMD advance warnings of heavy rain, dam management failed. “The situation in Ganjam raises serious questions about preparedness and management. Claiming zero deaths is not enough—the government must account for the actual ground reality,” he said.
With the Assembly session approaching, both sides have signalled readiness for a detailed discussion on disaster management, setting the stage for further political sparring over one of Ganjam’s most severe recent flood events.
