Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Aila hit Kendrapada

Panic gripped sea side villages in Kendrapada district when tidal waves hit the villages since Sunday evening causing extensive damage to agricultural land in a couple of blocks.

The tidal waves transgressed the weak saline embankments at three strategic points inundating the crop areas of Baradanga and Suniti gram panchayats.

The ingress mainly occurred through the strategic Akhadasali sluice gate that remained in bad shape following non-maintenance since last five years, alleged local panchayat members.

According to reports, over 1500 hectares of agriculture fields were salinised with tidal waves spilling over in Atharbanki, Gabajidiha, Jagatjori saline embankment buffer erected about 80 feet from the sea coast.

Similar ingress of seawater were reported in parts of Chakada, Gogua, Tantiapala, Kharansi, Ramnagar villages as the tidal waves got the better of weak points of the saline embankment.

Though there are no reports of loss of property, however, the crop areas are still lying waterlogged.

The saline embankments the maintenance of which was left much to be desired breached at least four strategic points inundating the seaside crop areas.

The 32 km stretch saline embankment built during the seventies to protect the coastal villages in Mahakalpada is reportedly in a bad shape.

An estimated Rs 2 crore sanctioned for refurbishment of the embankment since 1999 Super Cyclone has mostly been misused.

As a result, the coastal villages are still exposed to the vagaries of nature.

Similarly, in Rajnagar block, tidal water ingressed Kanpur village.

The district administration evacuated 17 families of Kanpur at Satabhaya panchayat office.

The district administration has provided relief materials to the affected villagers of Kanpur.

Similarly, saline water also entered into the Satabhaya village through the weak saline embankment from Baunsagadi to Panchbarahi temple as more than five places the saline water making inroads through the weak embankment.

Satabhaya people are now in marooned following water logging of the village.

The district administration has provided relief material for three days, informed district collector Sisirkanta Panda.

Panic prevailed on Monday at Pentha village following the sea water entered through the weak saline embankment to the nearby fields of Petha where the district administration has filled the embankment by packing sand bags to stop the ingress of tidal water

Life was thrown out of gear in several parts of coastal district due to heavy rains accompanied by high-velocity wind since last 30 hours under the impact of a deep depression.

The district collector on Monday visited the affected villages of Rajnagar block to access the damage.

In the afternoon, energy minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak presided over a review meeting at the collectorate.

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