Bhubaneswar: Life is slowly returning to normal in several flood-affected areas as water levels in major rivers across the state continue to recede, even as India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts light to moderate rain at many places over the next five to six days.Revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari on Sunday said Centre has released Rs 500 crore for Odisha for disaster management and mitigation.“The flood situation is improving. After the release of floodwater from Hirakud dam, river Mahanadi swelled and districts such as Cuttack, Puri, Khurda and Jagatsinghpur were affected. But now, the water levels of all major rivers have come down,” Pujari said, adding the govt is now focusing on compensation and rehabilitation.“Assessment of flood damage is the most important task now, and we have started the process. For agricultural loss, we are working with the agriculture department. Officials have been asked to assess crop loss and house damage as soon as water recedes from affected areas,” Pujari said, adding disinfection work has started in areas where floodwater has receded, with priority being given to water bodies.Besides agricultural fields, roads, anganwadi centres, schools and govt offices have also been damaged in flood-affected areas, with officials ready to assess these losses as well.Meanwhile, people who had taken shelter at relief camps or on riverbanks have started returning home and repairing their damaged houses. More than eight lakh people in 22 districts have been affected, with Bhadrak being the worst-hit district, followed by Balasore and Jajpur.Engineer-in-chief of water resources department Dilip Rout said there was no flood threat in any river, including the Mahanadi, where the maximum water flow this year touched 8.8 lakh cusec. Heavy water released from Hirakud reservoir through 22 sluice gates since last Friday afternoon began passing through Mundali in the Mahanadi system near Cuttack by Sunday afternoon.Rout said the floodwater would not create any trouble downstream. “The department was trying to maintain the outflow at Mundali at 6.5 lakh cusec, which reduced to six lakh cusec during the day. With heavy water flow continuing from Hirakud, the department is targeting to bring down the reservoir level to 618ft against the full reservoir level of 630ft, even as inflow into the reservoir has reduced, Rout said.Despite assurances from the water resources department, people living downstream of the Mahanadi, however, remained worried as the river flow rose due to Hirakud discharge.Meanwhile, the IMD predicted heavy rain and thunderstorms in some districts, issuing a yellow warning for Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj for Monday.
