Bantala: The residents of Tikarpada village on the banks of Mahanadi under Purunakote police limits in Angul district continue to live of neglect and obscurity as floodwaters of the river entered the Ghatasahi hamlet Sunday night.
Apprehending that the floodwater might further increase at night and enter their houses, the residents of Ghatasahi were seen hurrying to safer places with their belongings Monday.
The villagers in other hamlets were also seen spending apprehensive moments with the rise in floodwaters and preparing themselves to leave their places. They are becoming restless with Hirakud dam slated to release the first floodwaters of the season Tuesday. The villagers fear the discharge of the floodwater from Hirakud might further worsen the situation.
The villagers suffered substantial loss during floods in 1982, 2003, 2007, 2012 and 2013. The floods of 1982 and 2007 had a terrible impact on them when the floodwaters entered the village and submerged the forest range office, Keuta Sahi hamlet, Ghata Sahi hamlet, the panchayat office, the school, the Central Water Research Centre’s office and the health centre in the village while damaging over 200 houses. Since then, nothing much has changed for the villagers as they continue to live a cursed life and bear the brunt of living in a riparian village.
This has happened as the administration is yet to do its bit for the villagers. The residents take shelter in the Tikarpada high school, the panchayat office, the Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra and the local primary school when the floodwater enters the village. However, if the floodwater further rises it becomes difficult for them to take shelter in each of the above centres.
The administration, despite being aware of the situation, is yet to take any corrective measures for the villagers through construction of flood relief centre.
When contacted, SDO BB Nayak said currently there is no flood threat for the villagers but the actual situation cab be gauged only after Hirakud dam’s floodwater is discharged.
PNN
