Flood Update IV of 2011 from WIO - 13th September 2011
Ranjan Panda
Dear co-sailors,
As we bring to you the Flood Update IV for the current flood situations in the state of Odisha, we are overwhelmed by the tremendous response from our readers. Many have called us with news from their places and some have asked us to bring out print version of this update. We thank you all for this and we are sure together we can make it a regular and happening activity. As we have already said, WIO is an informal network whose strength depends on its members and well-wishers. Also, for your information, this is a PURELY VOLUNTARY EFFORT by us and we have not received any funding support from any one to bring out these updates to you.
In the meanwhile friends from Australia and few groups of Delhi have contacted us to given information on groups that are engaged in flood relief and rehabilitation works so that they can chip in with some supports they can. We have already sent these requests to all in the state in our list. However, through this Update, we would once again request our readers in the state to get back to us on this so that we can pass on their details and contacts to those friends for them to contact you directly.
By the time we compile this Update, sources inform that the current flood has affected at least 2.2 million people in 3505 villages of 93 blocks and 14 urban areas of 19 districts in the state. At least 17 people are reported to be dead and 11 have been swept away by flood waters and hence are missing. Govt. reports say that 14 domestic animals have died and 2 elephants have been swept away by flood waters to a distance of about 5 kilometres and are waiting rescue. Two persons have died of snake bite and many are stuck up in swampy embankments and mounts without any safe drinking water and any other facilities. Many have started to fear of disease outbreaks. 4 helicopters are airdropping food packets for flood victims of Kendrapada, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts and 911 boats have been engaged in the relief operations. In addition, several voluntary organisations and political parties are also engaged in flood relief activities.
Today, in our LEAD section we pick a news story from Dharitri to inform you, once again, how the mismanagement of Hirakud dam has actually fuelled the flood devastations in Mahanadi basin. In fact, ever since we raised this issue, many people in the state have echoed this and we are really happy to report to you that many civil society organisations, media, political parties, experts and academicians have now started to debate on this much critical issue. This is really a good thing to happen to this state as the management of Hirakud needs an overhauling with a change in the ‘Rule Curve’ and integrating several other factors those we have been raising. Hope the government listens now!
As already informed, we are deliberately keeping the format of this update very simple and user friendly. In this update we have the following sections. After giving our view point in the LEAD Section, in the LOOKING BACK section, we take you back to one of our Alerts in 2009 that narrates how our warnings about climate change was confirmed by the World Bank. This Alert also has some relevant information on the Floods in the state. It confirms therefore that despite engaging with these international financial institutions and spending so much money and manpower in studies and researches, the learnings are not being integrated into the flood projection systems and management operations.
Then we hand pick some NEWS from different sources with the objective of giving you a latest picture of the flood, its impact and relief-rehabilitation measures on way in the state, both by government and other agencies. We then provide you with small important statistics in our STATS section that are useful in assessing the current situation of reservoirs, rainfall, etc. Finally, in the MET SPEAKS section, we highlight some of the key weather forecasts that may affect the flood conditions and relief-rehabilitation operations.
Once again, we would like to inform you that, at the moment, it’s occasional and we may come up with these updates as and when we can, given our limited manpower and resources. However, with your inputs and support, we are sure; we shall be able to ensure regular flow of this update.
We request you to send in your reports of activities, your views; and any other interesting and relevant article, books, photographs, and anything that you feel we should cover in this Update. It’s YOU who is the most important FUEL of this effort.
Before we stop to pen, we would like to inform you that this update is also available at
http://climatecrusaders.blogspot.com/2011/09/flood-update-iv-of-2011-from-wio.html
and
http://www.scribd.com/doc/64771812/Flood-Update-IV-From-WIO-13th-September-2011
Look forward to listen from you and your continued support.
Thanks and regards,
Ranjan Panda
Convenor, Water Initiatives Odisha
STOP PRESS: At 09.00 hrs on 13.09.2011, Reservoir Level of Hirakud was 628.71 and 5 Sluice Gates were open. 1,77,865 cusecs was inflow and 1,07,983 cusecs was the outflow.
Ranjan K Panda
Water Initiatives Odisha: Fighting water woes, combating climate change... more than two decades now!
R-3/A-4, J. M. Colony, Budharaja
Email: ranja...@gmail.com, ranja...@yahoo.com
You can also mail me at: ranjan....@facebook.com
Skype: ranjan.climatecrusader
Blog: http://www.climatecrusaders.blogspot.com/
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Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO) is a state level coalition of civil society organisations, farmers, academia, media and other concerned, which has been working on water, environment and climate change issues in the state for more than two decades now.