BHUBANESWAR: The BJP on Monday slammed the Government for not seeking assistance of the Army and the Navy for rescue and relief operations in the flood-affected districts."The Government should have taken military assistance as it has failed to reach many areas where people are still trapped in flood water without food,’’ senior BJP leader BB Harichandan told mediapersons here.Alleging that the Government has miserably failed to rescue the marooned people and provide relief to them, the former minister said many areas of Jajpur and Kendrapara districts are not accessible even today.The Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams are unable to reach many villages in Jajpur and Kendrapara districts because of high water current. Even supply of food through airdropping is not possible in many areas of Bari, Aul and Rajkanika blocks, Harichandan said after visiting several areas of Jajpur district.He further alleged that food materials had not reached 50 anganwadi centres providing supplementary nutrition to children, pregnant and lactating mothers.The first and second spell of floods exposed the Government’s lack of preparedness to handle such calamities. He urged the Government to rush relief materials to the marooned people and those taking shelter on river banks without delay.The BJP leader said the affected people in Korei block were complaining of not getting polythene.When lakhs of people are suffering due to floods, the Government is shamelessly busy in making political appointments to various cooperative societies and corporations, he criticised.The Government, however, rejected the BJP demand for taking military assistance. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister SN Patro said there was no need to seek Army assistance while admitting that many areas were still difficult to reach.
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