KONARK: Ravaged in the recent floods, Gopa block awaits officials to begin the enumeration process. Having lost their houses and hearth to flood, the villagers are spending nights under the open sky with a single polythene sheet falling short in providing them adequate cover.It was on the night of September 10 when flood water gushed into the villages following a breach in the embankment of the Kusabhadra river at Kusupur. The water engulfed houses and belongings of the villagers while lives were lost and many went missing. The district administration could reach the flood-hit perched on roof-tops only on the fourth day with relief and help. The ODRAF team had just one boat at its disposal which proved inadequate.Flattened rice, jaggery and rice were distributed in the worst affected Gopa and Payara gram panchayats, but only for 10 days. Four other GPs received relief for 14 days and the rest for about seven days. A team of 12 Revenue inspectors have completed preliminary survey in the 90-affected villages of Gopa block. However, the damaged houses are yet to be photographed. With only two photographers assigned the job, the work is taking longer to be completed. The villagers blamed the delay on lack of co-ordination between the Government and district officials. It is being alleged that officials are trying to complete the survey through sampling and tamper with the damage to houses list to meet the required target of the Government. The villagers further said with only two officials to supervise the entire process in the 90 villages, they feared further delay. Allegations of mismanagement in distribution of relief are also making rounds. The block administration has been accused of providing false statement about supply of boats, fuel and kerosene during the flood. The villagers alleged that relief material meant for the flood-affected are instead making way to market while they continue to suffer. They villagers want the Government to depute more officials to complete the enumeration process.
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