Flood in Narmada, Bharuch a man-made calamity, allege Opposition parties in Gujarat

Opposition parties, NGOs and social media users blame Gujarat govt for mismanaging the sudden release of waters from Sardar Sarovar Narmada dam, causing floods in Narmada, Bharuch and parts of Vadodara. Cabinet Minister Kuvarji Halpati and Ankleshwar BJP MLA Ishwar Patel faced protests from angry crowds. Inflow of 22 lakh cusecs of water from Madhya Pradesh forced govt to open dam gates, resulting in outflow of 18 lakh cusecs due to "prudent management".

Two days after the floods in Narmada and Bharuch receded following drop in waters from the Sardar Sarovar Narmada dam, politics over the sudden release of waters that inundated two districts causing widespread damages continues to intensify with both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) calling the floods as “man-made calamity.” 

On Thursday, the opposition Congress yet again blamed the State government for not “following the manual” to gradually discharge water from the dam and then suddenly releasing, that caused inundation and massive damages to agriculture, markets and industrial facilities along the Narmada coast in Ankleshwar and Bharuch towns. 

“It was a man-made disaster, thanks to the mismanagement by the State government,” said Congress leader Himmatsinh Patel, who led a delegation to visit the flood-affected areas on Thursday. 

He also demanded a special package for the victims and the affected people who suffered as their farms had been washed away destroying standing crops. Household items also destroyed in above five feet waters in several villages and low lying areas. 

The AAP and several NGOs also blamed the State government for mismanaging the situation and lack of timely response that led to the disastrous floods. “The government allowed the water to accumulate in the dam to let it artificially overflow on September 17 to coincide with the Prime Minister’s birthday,” said AAP’s Sagar Rabari, who shared data of release of waters from the dam from September 10 onwards. 

According to him, Bharuch and Narmada never witnessed such floods since 1970. “It was completely avoidable. They should have gradually released the water from the dam in previous days before it overflowed on September 17. 

Infuriated people vent their outbursts on social media platforms holding the authorities accountable for the floods. Also, when Cabinet Minister Kuvarji Halpati visited some sites, he faced protests by the crowds on Wednesday, while Ankleshwar BJP MLA Ishwar Patel also faced angry crowds in his constituency on Thursday.