Weak Embankments of the Subarnarekha Pose Threat to Several Panchayats in Baliapal

Balasore, 5/12 (Krushna Kumar Mohanty): During Question Hour in the Winter Session of the Odisha Assembly on Thursday, Basta MLA Subasini Jena participated in the discussion on the Water Resources Department and raised a supplementary question. She pointed out that although floods have become a regular threat in the Basta constituency, many villages along the Subarnarekha river are still protected only by weak embankments. She urged the government to take up stone-patching and strengthening these vulnerable stretches at the earliest.

The villages affected include Badapal, Dattasahi, Barakhanpur under Asti panchayat; Ekadapala, Rasulpur, and Bishnupur under Bishnupur panchayat; Kankadapala under Chaumukha panchayat; Palabegunia and Chadapalarpada under Nikhila panchayat; and Nuasahi and Jhaljhalia under Kumbhari panchayat.

The MLA asked the Minister to clarify what steps the government is taking to reinforce these embankments and how much financial allocation has been made for the work.

Replying on behalf of the Water Resources Department in the absence of the Chief Minister, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling stated that the government undertakes four types of embankment-related works: capital embankments meant to restrain river water, agricultural embankments, temporary embankments to block sand erosion, and saline embankments.

He informed the House that nearly 20 flood-management projects are currently underway in Balasore district under various schemes. He added that the department will examine the MLA’s proposals and take appropriate action.