BHUBANESWAR: With the flood threat looming large, the Orissa Government on Thursday mobilised more and more support to the vulnerable pockets in the deltaic region. With river embankments being the weak points, the Water Resources Department moved close to 70 lakh sandbags to fortify them.To facilitate air-dropping of food materials and relief, INS Chilika is requisitioned for helicopters. While emergency relief was announced, the State Government also asked the districts to stock food materials and other essential items at pockets which are prone to marooning.As per the current situation, 10.36 lakh cusec water was flowing at Khairmal while Baramul recorded 9.61 lakh cusec and Munduli 8.20 lakh cusec. By Friday afternoon, the flow at Munduli is expected to rise to 13 lakh cusec. If that happens, the Orissa State Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) will grapple with the problem as its fleet of 120 inflatable boats could well fall short of necessity. Anticipating technical trouble, it has asked two mechanics from Delhi to service the boats which lay unused for a long period.The OSDMA had invited tender in September last year for procuring 50 more boats from Japan. The delivery is yet to be made though. “We are expecting the boats next month. The power problem in Japan, after the earthquake-induced nuclear crisis, delayed the process,” Managing Director Bichitrananda Das said.However, the current fleet has been deployed at vulnerable points to take off during the emergency.The Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) was also kept in readiness at Cuttack, Banki, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Paradip, Balangir, Jharsuguda and Balasore.The Health Department has been directed to deploy mobile units and Animal Resources Department asked to stock fodder for animals. Diesel pumpsets are being readied in urban areas to drain storm water.
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