Flood Update IX from Water Initiatives Odisha
Flood situation in Northern
Odisha rivers still grim
Dear Friends/Co-sailors,
The flood woes of Northern Odisha rivers have worsened since we sent our
8th Flood Update on 23rd September. As per the latest report available from govt.
sources, 8 districts (Anugl, Balasore, Bhadrak, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Keonjhar,
Kendrapada and Mayurbhanj) have been affected by the latest spell of the
disaster. However, what the govt. report
misses out is the flood in Sundergarh and Deogarh districts. Media houses and other sources have reported
massive flood damages in these two districts too.
As we compile this update at 2 pm on 25th September, 2011, the
latest update on Floods released by the Orissa State Disaster Mitigation
Authority (OSDMA) mentions that more than 1.5 million people have been
affected by these floods; 7 people have died and more than 3 lakh livestock
have been affected. What is
important to note here is that, in the earlier spell of floods, the final
report for which was compiled and released by the Govt. the total livestock
damage was only 1667. However, this time
it has crossed more than 3 lakhs. The number of marooned villages has been put at
992. While 2362 villages in 510 Gram
Panchayats of 46 Blocks of the 8 reported districts have been affected; the
urban habitations affected have been reported at 47 Wards in 8 Urban Local
Bodies. You can get the complete
list at http://www.osdma.org/Download/Flood_2011Update_Status_240911.pdf. However, we are sure; the real
figure of damages is much more since the OSDMA report does not take into
account the affected figures in Sundergarh and Deogarh districts.
As the rivers of Northern Odisha flood yet again, the debate around
Flood Control and Management abilities of Dams have resurfaced. In the LEAD section of this Update, we have
given some basic analysis of how the Rengali dam has not been properly managed
and we have argued how it has become UTMOST ESSENTIAL to prepare a Flood
Management Policy for the government that takes care of several integrated
issues like sound flood forecasting, river basin management pithing in
co-ordinated action with people and states involved, and the need for Flood
Plain management. While we keep the note in the
LEAD section brief, a detailed note on the Rengali dam and flood management has
been attached to this update.
Then we have our regular NEWS, STATS and METSPEAKS sections in this
short update.
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.
Look forward to listen from you and your continued support.
Thanks and regards,
Ranjan Panda
Convenor, Water Initiatives Odisha
STOP PRESS: By the time we despatch this
Update, reports had started coming in from govt. sources that the flood devastation
has affected about 2.2 million people already.
The loss of live has been counted at 17 and affected livestock has
already gone up to more than 4 lakh. We
shall post the detailed information in our next update.
=================
LEAD
Different Designs, Same
Management
‘Did
we manage the Rengali dam the way we managed Hirakud?’ asks Water Initiatives
Odisha, as it brings a special note on this issue in response to the latest
spell of the flood disaster in northern Odisha Rivers.
The latest spectre of floods over Brahmani and
Baitarani has once again brought the Dam Operations and Management systems of
the state into question. This time the
focus goes to the Rengali dam. Before
going further to the discussion, we would like to bring to your notice the
water storage level that was maintained in the Rengali dam on select dates as
against the recommended Rule Curve for that dam.
|
Select
Date
|
Recommended
Maximum Reservoir and Minimum Limits
(by Rule Curve)
|
Level
at which the Reservoir was kept
|
|
1st
July
|
109.72
M / 109.72 M
|
114.84
M
|
|
1st
August
|
115.85
M/ 115.85 M
|
114.91
M
|
|
1st
September
|
122.50
M/ 121.95 M
|
122.36
M
|
|
7th
September
|
122.50
M/ 121.95 M
|
122.87
M
|
|
14th
September
|
122.50
M/ 121.95 M
|
123.54
M
|
|
20th
September
|
122.50
M/ 121.95 M
|
123.66
M
|
|
21st
September
|
122.50
M/ 121.95 M
|
123.55
M
|
|
22nd
September
|
122.50
M/ 121.95 M
|
123.56
M
|
|
23rd
September
|
122.50
M/ 121.95 M
|
123.56
M
|
|
24th
September
|
122.50
M/ 121.95 M
|
124.39
M
|
As can be observed from the above, even as
warnings of depression/low pressure were coming in (and in fact that has
historically brought rain at this time of the year over Brahmani and Baitarani
river basins), the Reservoir was kept consistently at a higher level. On 23rd September, when we sent
out our 8th Flood Update for this year, the Govt. of Odisha’s Water
Resources Department’s website shown the Rengali Reservoir Level at 124.15 M,
that’s 0.65 M above the recommended FRL, which was 105.4%! Even though Rengali,
unlike Hirakud, is touted as a dam whose design has a specific space devoted
above the designed water level for the project, the multi-functionality of the
project makes it controversial each time floods have come. Further, the incomplete canals have also
added to the woes as water from the reservoir could not be drained out faster
than envisaged. At the crux of it, the
dam authorities should never have allowed so much of water to stay in the
reservoir till the last moment. This is
how we managed our reservoir and let the flood devastate about half a million
people by design. Another thing that
comes to light with this is when we note that , on 23rd September,
the OHPC site, which has been quoted in the above table, shows a lower actual
reservoir level than what the WR department records. This shows how effective is the coordination
among various departments and institutions responsible for flood management in
our river basins.
Time
the government looks into the management of dams and river basins afresh; and
opens up its Flood Management policies to public of the state and come up with
a Flood Management Policy for the state which is not only technically advanced
(including integration of climate change scenarios) but also transparent and involves
all sections of the society through proper river basin management, reservoir
operations and flood plain management activities.
(The detailed
note has been attached to this Update and has also been posted at http://climatecrusaders.blogspot.com/2011/09/special-note-ii-on-odisha-floods-2011.html and http://www.scribd.com/doc/66269507/A-Note-From-WIO-on-the-Rengali-Dam-and-Flood-Management-24th-Sept-2011)
==========
NEWS
992 villages remain
marooned in flood-hit Orissa
With flood situation in four
north Orissa districts remaining grim, the state government on Saturday started
air-dropping of food packets as 992 villages continued to be marooned for the
second consecutive day.
"It is not practically
possible to open free kitchens in worst-hit Jajpur district as flood water had
submerged all the places in four blocks. Air-dropping of food packets is the
only alternative left with us," state Revenue and Disaster Management
minister S.N. Patro told reporters.
Stating that two helicopters
had already been pressed into the service, Patro said four more choppers are
likely to be deployed in relief operation. Though the second spell flood had
affected eight districts, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Keonjhar had been
severely affected due to very high flood in Brahmani and Baitarani rivers.
Balasore district was also
hit by flood water of Subarnarekha river while Angul and Dhenkanal districts
were affected due to flood in Brahmani river, he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister
Naveen Patnaik held talks with Home Minister P Chidambaram and Defence Minister
A.K. Antony seeking more choppers and boats for rescue and relief work.
"This is a very strong
flood in Jajpur, Kendrapara and Bhadrak districts," Patnaik said, adding
that the state government was taking all possible steps to provide succour and relief
to 15.40 lakh population in the eight districts.
"I tried to speak to the
PM on the flood situation. But, it was not possible as he was abroad."
Senior officials were deputed
to supervise rescue and relief operation in these three worst-hit districts
where people were trapped on rooftops with their houses submerged by flood
water of Brahmani and Baitarani.
Meanwhile, six persons died
and another went missing in flood waters. While two persons died in Jajpur
district, one each died in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Mayurbhanj
districts, special relief commissioner P.K. Mohapatra said, adding that 58,664
people has so far been evacuated.
This apart, a large number of
snake bite cases were reported from Kendrapara district, but there was no
casualty due to timely intervention of medical teams, he said.
Jajpur district has been cut
off after an old bridge collapsed at Sathipur Friday while the alternative road
through Panikoeli area was under water. The administration was facing
difficulties in transporting relief materials to the affected area, he
said. Flood situation in Jajpur,
Kendrapara and Bhardak is grave," the SRC said, adding that above 400
villages in Jajpur district were marooned followed by 135 villages in Bhadrak
district, 163 villages in Kendrapara district and 74 villages in Mayurbhanj
district.
Orissa airdrops food as
floods get worse
Orissa on Saturday started
airdropping of food packets in marooned villages as a fresh round of floods
triggered by heavy rains in the past four days got worse, officials said.
"One helicopter has started airdropping in the districts of Keonjhar and
Jajpur. Another chopper will join the operation soon," special relief
commissioner PK Mohapatra told reporters.
The state flood control room
said the latest round of floods triggered by heavy rains following a depression
over the Bay of Bengal has so far marooned 911 villages in Jajpur, Bhadrak,
Balasore, Kendrapada, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal and Mayurbhanj districts.
Thousands of people have
already taken shelter in high-rise buildings, river embankments and on roads.
However, the surging flood waters have made it difficult for many in the
marooned villages to travel to safer places.
While the latest floods in
Brahmani and Baitarani rivers have hit Jajpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, and
Keonjhar and made the situation worse, the Mayurbhanj district has been
affected severely due to high flood in the Budhabalanga river.
Floods triggered by heavy
rains and release of huge quantities of water from Hirakud dam had earlier this
month killed at least 42 people and affected about four million in Orissa's 19
districts, including in the regions affected by the fresh floods.
At least one person was
reported dead in the flood water in Kendrapada district on Friday.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Orissa-airdrops-food-as-floods-get-worse/Article1-749548.aspx
Flash floods snap state
road links, inundate areas
RANCHI: Communication with
neighbouring states like Orissa and Chhattisgarh snapped and property worth
several crores were damaged as flash floods submerged many low-lying areas
after incessant rain hit Jharkhand in the past three days.
Road links were cut off on Friday
when water started flowing over the bridges on Marda and Koel rivers on
National Highway 23 and 78 that connect the two states with Jharkhand via
Gumla.
Officials in the state road
department said hundreds of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the rivers.
"There is high current and the water is flowing at least two feet above
the bridge. No vehicles will be allowed to cross the bridge till the water
recedes," said an official.
Source:http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-24/ranchi/30197677_1_danger-mark-flash-floods-low-lying-areas
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee
(OPCC) chief spokesperson Arya Kumar Jnanendra on Friday informed that the OPCC
would submit a special report to the Central flood damage assessment committee
regarding the devastating floods, farmers’ suicides and Sindhol project in the
state.
Briefing newsmen here, Jnanendra
said that a meeting was held under the chairmanship of the senior party leader
Sriballav Panigrahi on these issues on Friday.
Most of the District Congress
Committee presidents alleged that the state government has failed to monitor
properly the release of water from the Hirakud reservoir.
The state government has
submitted a flood assessment report to the Centre stating that only 3.24 lakh
hectares of agricultural land has been affected in the floods, but it is a
totally wrong assessment.
The Congress’ assessment is that
more than 10 lakh hectares of farmland has been affected.
The OPCC urged the state
government supply Rabi crop seeds free of cost to the affected farmers, waive
Kharif loans, provide loan without interest for Rabi cultivation and pay
adequate compensation for the flood and droughts victims.
Source:
http://orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=29359
============
STATS
|
HIRAKUD
|
RENGALI
|
BALIMELA
|
MACHHKUND
|
UPPER KOLAB
|
INDRAVATI
|
SALANDI
|
|
96.0%
|
111.9%
|
24.2%
|
94.5%
|
34.6%
|
34.7%
|
79.7%
|
|
Time:1200 hrs
|
Time:1200 hrs
|
Time:0800 hrs
|
Time:0800 hrs
|
Time:0800 hrs
|
Time:0800 hrs
|
Time:0600 hrs
|
|
Reservoir Level & position wrt. Full Reservoir Level
|
||||||
|
RL: 629.04ft
|
RL: 124.56m
|
RL: 1466.7ft
|
RL: 2747.8ft
|
RL: 850.63m
|
RL: 632.19m
|
RL: 78.94m
|
|
(-) 0.96ft
|
(+) 1.06m
|
(-) 49.30ft
|
(-) 2.20ft
|
(-) 7.37m
|
(-) 9.81m
|
(-) 3.36m
|
|
Reservoir Inflow & Outflow
|
||||||
|
I:187133Cusecs
|
I:11171.03Cumecs
|
I:190.35Cumecs
|
I:29.08Cumecs
|
I:62.35Cumecs
|
I:165.2Cumecs
|
I:89.18Cumecs
|
|
O:142661Cusecs
|
O:12041.35Cumecs
|
O:89.75Cumecs
|
O:57.33Cumecs
|
O:33.24Cumecs
|
O:174.73Cumecs
|
O:2.5Cumecs
|
|
Live Storage capacity & Live Storage available
|
||||||
|
Cap:482155 Ham
|
Cap:341371 Ham
|
Cap:267600 Ham
|
Cap:96993 Ham
|
Cap:93500 Ham
|
Cap:148550 Ham
|
Cap:55650 Ham
|
|
LS:462918 Ham
|
LS:381991 Ham
|
LS:64713.61 Ham
|
LS:91623.8 Ham
|
LS:32386 Ham
|
LS:51475.02 Ham
|
LS:44373 Ham
|
|
The RED line corresponds to Full Reservoir Capacity
|
||||||
Met Speaks
|
From
0830 hours IST of yesterday to 0830
hours IST of today, widespread rainfall has
occurred over east Uttar Pradesh and SubHimalayan West Bengal & Sikkim; fairly widespread over Bihar, northeastern states,
Jharkhand,
Gangetic West Bengal and Andaman
& Nicobar Islands; scattered over east Madhya Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh and
Orissa
and isolated over Himachal Pradesh,
|
|
|
|
Weather
Forecast: Scattered rain/thundershowers would occur over east Madhya Pradesh,
Gangetic West Bengal, Orissa and south Chhattisgarh.
|
Source: IMD
===================
Water Initiatives Odisha: Fighting
water woes, combating climate change... more
than two decades now!
R-3/A-4, J. M. Colony, Budharaja
Sambalpur
768 004, Odisha, INDIA
Mobile:
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Skype: ranjan.climatecrusader
Please join our group 'Save Rivers Save
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Kiss the rain when you can, because water and
abundance are falling apart...(Ranjan Panda)
===========
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.
