A PIL filed in Orissa High Court has sought direction to the state government to constitute an expert committee to monitor maintenance of water level in Hirakud reservoir during the rainy season.Suryanarayan Biswal and two others have alleged in the PIL that the recent floods in Orissa cannot be attributed only to "nature's fury".
It was also caused "either because of short-sightedness or arbitrary action and inaction" of the Hirakud dam authorities and water resources department. The petitioners ' all members of Orissa High Court bar ' expect the court to "regulate and supervise" release of floodwater from the Hirakud dam during rainy season through an expert committee consisting of chief engineer (Hirakud dam), chief engineer (irrigation department), water resources secretary, energy secretary and two eminent social activists.
The petitioners have also sought direction to the state government "to compensate the flood victims", as it was a "man-made flood".
The bench of Chief Justice V. Gopala Gowda and Justice B.N. Mohapatra is expected to take up the PIL for hearing on submission of a reply by the state government when the court reopens after the Puja vacation on October 17.
According to the petition, around 30 lakh people were adversely affected by the flood in Orissa during the first half of September.
As early as five days before September 9, there was weather forecast about heavy rainfall in Chhattisgarh, western and interior parts of Orissa consisting of Balangir, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Deogarh and Boudh districts.
But between September 4 and 7, only 10 to 15 sluice gates of the reservoir were opened. During these days, water had been flowing at Hirakud reservoir at above 620ft.
"Had water from the reservoir been cleared between September 3 and 7 maintaining only the water level required for power generation, floodwater of Mahanadi following heavy rain in Chhattisgarh could have been controlled at Hirakud dam," the petition contends.
Instead of opening 30 to 35 sluice gates between September 3 and 7, the dam authorities opened only 10 to 15 sluice gates.
Subsequently, more than 60 gates were opened at a time on September 8 "resulting in the high flood in Mahanadi and causing heavy loss to life and property".
"Unfortunately, lack of proper coordination between Orissa and Chhattisgarh governments over rainfall in Chhattisgarh precipitated the situation," the petition further contends. The PIL has sought judicial scrutiny of the water level maintained in Hirakud reservoir between June and October and weather forecast reports from both Chhattisgarh and western Orissa vis-�-vis actual rainfall.
It was also caused "either because of short-sightedness or arbitrary action and inaction" of the Hirakud dam authorities and water resources department. The petitioners ' all members of Orissa High Court bar ' expect the court to "regulate and supervise" release of floodwater from the Hirakud dam during rainy season through an expert committee consisting of chief engineer (Hirakud dam), chief engineer (irrigation department), water resources secretary, energy secretary and two eminent social activists.
The petitioners have also sought direction to the state government "to compensate the flood victims", as it was a "man-made flood".
The bench of Chief Justice V. Gopala Gowda and Justice B.N. Mohapatra is expected to take up the PIL for hearing on submission of a reply by the state government when the court reopens after the Puja vacation on October 17.
According to the petition, around 30 lakh people were adversely affected by the flood in Orissa during the first half of September.
As early as five days before September 9, there was weather forecast about heavy rainfall in Chhattisgarh, western and interior parts of Orissa consisting of Balangir, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Deogarh and Boudh districts.
But between September 4 and 7, only 10 to 15 sluice gates of the reservoir were opened. During these days, water had been flowing at Hirakud reservoir at above 620ft.
"Had water from the reservoir been cleared between September 3 and 7 maintaining only the water level required for power generation, floodwater of Mahanadi following heavy rain in Chhattisgarh could have been controlled at Hirakud dam," the petition contends.
Instead of opening 30 to 35 sluice gates between September 3 and 7, the dam authorities opened only 10 to 15 sluice gates.
Subsequently, more than 60 gates were opened at a time on September 8 "resulting in the high flood in Mahanadi and causing heavy loss to life and property".
"Unfortunately, lack of proper coordination between Orissa and Chhattisgarh governments over rainfall in Chhattisgarh precipitated the situation," the petition further contends. The PIL has sought judicial scrutiny of the water level maintained in Hirakud reservoir between June and October and weather forecast reports from both Chhattisgarh and western Orissa vis-�-vis actual rainfall.
