Cyclone Daye weakens, dumps heavy rain in Odisha
Bhubaneswar, Sep 21: Several parts of Odisha have been experiencing heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms under the impact of cyclonic storm Daye.
The cyclone crossed Odisha coast near Gopalpur in the early on Friday.
It has caused heavy to very heavy rainfall in Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Rayagada, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts. Tribal-dominated district of Malkangiri has been the worst affected.
Several rivers in the district including Pangam, Saptadhara, Korukonda were flowing above danger-level while road communication between Malkangiri and Chhattisgarh has been disrupted, an official said.
With water crossing danger level in Balimela reservoir in Malkangiri district, four gates of the reservoir have been opened, said the official.
Reviewing the rainfall situation, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday sanctioned gratuitous relief for seven days at Rs 60 per day per adult and Rs 45 per day for children below 12 years in the Malkangiri district.
Patnaik also directed the district administration to reach out to those affected and extend all assistance to them. Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi said Malkangiri district received 166.25 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours since Thursday.
He said 150 persons were evacuated from Koteru village to safe places while steps were being taken to provide relief material to them.
Due to incessant rain in the upper catchment area, the Kolab Dam authorities in Koraput have opened two gates of the reservoir on Friday.
While the cyclonic storm has weakened into a deep depression and lay over south interior Odisha and neighbourhood, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall at most places and heavy to very heavy rainfall at few places over the state.
The Met department has advised fishermen to not venture into sea along and off Odisha coast during the next 24 hours till Saturday. The state government has also instructed officials to be on the vigil to tackle any emergency situation.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) have been deployed in different districts.
One NDRF team each has been deployed in Kalahandi, Rayagada, Gajapati, Puri, Nayagarh and Kandhamal districts with a total 17 boats and other emergency equipment.
One ODRAF team each has been deployed in Ganjam, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri districts. Fire service units in the respective districts were deployed for search and rescue work wherever required.
The holiday of all government offices has been cancelled in the affected districts.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
No stubble burning now, why air pollution crisis in Delhi: Mann takes dig at BJP
Chandigarh (PTI): Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday slammed the BJP saying its leaders used to "defame" Punjab farmers over stubble burning and blame them for Delhi's poor air quality and questioned why is there pollution crisis in national capital despite no farm fires now.
Mann said that as soon as paddy harvest takes place, BJP leaders blame Punjab and its farmers for Delhi's poor air quality.
He said they used to claim that stubble burning by Punjab farmers causes Delhi's pollution.
Mann said at present, the Air Quality Index in major Punjab cities is between 70 and 130.
"At present, Delhi's AQI is between 450 and 500 and no smoke is coming from Punjab. But the situation in Delhi is worse. At least now they should agree that there is no role of Punjab for Delhi's poor air quality," Mann said in a video message.
Mann's remarks came on a day Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa apologised for the air pollution crisis in the national capital and acknowledged its impact on children's health.
Sirsa, however, asserted that it was the result of the policies pursued by the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi.
ALSO READ: Goa nightclub fire: Luthra brothers deported from Thailand, taken into police custody
Last month, the BJP had trashed the Punjab CM's previous claim that stubble burning in the state has no role in the high levels of air pollution in Delhi as "ridiculous".
Dismissing Mann's claim, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva had last month said it is certain that stubble burning is a "major" factor (for the air pollution in Delhi).
Meanwhile, Mann in his video message said, due to severe floods which Punjab witnessed this year, paddy harvesting got delayed, "despite this, many Delhi ministers had already started blaming Punjab".
"I want to praise Punjab farmers, NGOs and efforts of the Punjab government have also paid off in controlling stubble burning this time. The cases of stubble burning in Punjab have reduced by 70-80 per cent and this has been acknowledged by the Central Government and the Union Agriculture Minister," Mann said.
The CM further said that after paddy harvest even the wheat crop has been sown and now, there is no incident of stubble burning.
He said BJP leaders used to claim that Punjab's smoke from stubble travels to Delhi.
"Now, there is no stubble burning, but Delhi is facing very poor air quality. This proves that earlier too Punjab's smoke had no role for Delhi's poor air quality. Only accusations were made by the BJP to defame Punjab. At least now the Centre should praise the farmers of Punjab," he said.
"Meanwhile, Delhi's AQI is between 450 and 500, flights are being cancelled, and breathing has become difficult," said Mann.
He asked both the BJP government in Delhi and the BJP led Centre to address Delhi's air pollution, saying citizens cannot even venture out for a walk due to air pollution.
He also asked the BJP that Punjab should not be dragged into this political battle, instead, Punjab's farmers should be appreciated, and the Delhi and Central governments should focus on addressing Delhi's air pollution.
Mann further said that farmers of Punjab are 'anndatas' (food providers) and they meet the country's food needs, they should not be defamed.
