BJP MLA Tankadhar Tripathy Confronts Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari Over Flood Relief in Odisha Assembly
BHUBANESWAR: In a striking display of internal accountability, Jharsuguda MLA Tankadhar Tripathy and Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari engaged in a sharp exchange on the floor of the Odisha Vidhan Sabha during the question hour on the third day of the Assembly’s monsoon session.The high-stakes discussion centered on the widespread devastation triggered by recent torrential rainfall and floods across the state. Tripathy, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator, directed tough questions at his own party colleague’s department, demanding a transparent evaluation of grassroots-level management, relief distribution efficiency, and the precise assessment of house and property damage within local blocks.
Replying to the intense questioning, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari tabled a comprehensive status report detailing the massive scale of the natural disaster. According to the government report, over 37 lakh people across 26 districts have been severely affected by the severe weather. The floods have claimed 7 human lives, resulted in the loss of 93 livestock, and caused extensive agricultural damage spanning 2.12 lakh hectares of standing crops. Additionally, 18,067 houses have sustained damages.In an effort to reassure the house and the public, Minister Pujari announced that the state government has already released ₹234.84 crore to fund immediate relief operations and compensatory measures for the affected citizens.
The face-off has garnered significant attention from political observers and the media alike. It highlighted a rare instance where lawmakers from the ruling BJP maintained a firm stance on regional accountability, putting aside party lines to demand rigorous oversight on disaster management and public welfare.
