SAMBALPUR: The proposal of a second dam was a poll gimmick and the BJD looked more interested in wresting power in the upcoming panchayat polls than providing succour to the people, said Sriballav Panigrahi, former MP who is also heading the flood-review team formed by the Pradesh Congress Committee.Addressing mediapersons here on Friday, Panigrahi said the proposal of Water Resources Secretary Suresh Mohapatra for a second dam in catchment areas of Mahanadi delta could have been made to mislead the Governor, who had suggested setting up of a Commission to probe the cause of the recent flood.The Congress leader said the project was ‘unrealistic’ and the entire statement smacked of ill-intention to hide the facts behind the flood.Maintaining that there was documentary evidence to prove that the recent flood was man-made, he said mismanagement of dam both at Hirakud and Rengali aggravated the flood, which could otherwise been reduced.Declaring that the Congress would take up the issue at the administrative, legal and political front, the senior Congress leader said the issue also involved human rights violation. The team also stressed the need to revise the rule curve considering the climatic changes and shifting of monsoon.The team would submit its report to the PCC on the proposed second dam who will take up the matter with the UPA Government at the Centre.Panigrahi said during his visit to Deogaon, Kapasira and Godhaneswar, the three sites proposed for Sindol Hydro Power Project, the handful of people who supported the project have also rejected it after the flood.The sole idea behind the project was to provide water to a thermal power plant coming up at Pitamahal.The people, he pointed out, could gauge the damage that would have occurred had the project been commissioned.The senior Congress leader was flanked by Sambalpur District Congress president Raj Kishore Das and coordinator of Flood Loss Assessment team of the Congress, Narendra Mishra.
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