Balasore: Cancelling his pre-scheduled programme, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today visited flood affected Baliapal and Bhograi blocks of Balasore district and held a meeting with the local administration there.
Shri Majhi took an aerial visit to review the flood situation caused by heavy rain in the two blocks.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Balasore MP Pratap Chandra Shadangi, local MLA, RDC, District Magistrate and senior officials of the District Administration were present in this review meeting taken in Balasore.
Speaking to media persons at Balasore, the Chief Minister said that over 8000 hectares of area in six blocks have been inundated. Besides, 35 gram panchayats in three blocks have been affected due to the flood.
Around 2000 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas, he said, adding, arrangements have been made to provide them cooked food and other essentials.
A total of eight teams of Fire Service, three ODRAF teams and a NDRF team have been deployed in the marooned villages which are still cut-off from the rest of the world.
The Chief Minister stated that the state government is taking all necessary steps to control flooding in the swollen Subarnarekha River.
The Engineer in Chief of the Water Resources department has been directed to prepare a plan for a permanent solution and the government will take steps after getting a report in this regard, said Shri Majhi.
The Chief Minister has also directed for formation of a district-level health service team to provide health services to the affected people from water-borne diseases.
He emphasized on maintaining cleaning the houses and schools in the flood hit areas. He inquired whether the affected people were being properly supplied with cooked food or not.
Shri Majhi asked to provide cooked food to the people for more days wherever necessary. The Chief Minister also asked to provide polythene to the people whose houses were destroyed.
The Chief Minister said that instructions have been issued to immediately reach the flood affected people and speed up the rescue and relief works.