Cuttack, Nov. 1: Orissa High Court has admitted a PIL on alleged mismanagement of the Hirakud reservoir that led to a flood in the Mahanadi river system in September.

The PIL, while seeking direction to the state government “to compensate the flood victims”, as it was a “manmade” one, has also sought order to constitute an expert committee to monitor maintenance of water level in the Hirakud reservoir “during rainy season”.

The PIL alleged that the floods in the first fortnight of September could not be attributed only to “nature’s fury”. It was also caused “either because of short-sightedness or arbitrary action and inaction” of the Hirakud dam authorities and the water resources department.

The petitioners, members of the Orissa High Court Bar, expect the court to “regulate and supervise” release of floodwater from the Hirakud dam during rains through an expert committee consisting of chief engineer (Hirakud dam), chief engineer (irrigation), secretary of the water resources department, secretary of the energy department and two eminent social activists.

“The two-judge bench of Chief Justice V. Gopala Gowda and Justice B.N. Mohapatra yesterday issued notices to the Orissa government to clarify its stand on the issue within three weeks,” advocate-petitioner Kodanda Bhuyan told The Telegraph today.

The petition said around 30 lakh people were adversely affected by floods. Five days prior to September 9, there was weather forecast about heavy rain in Chhattisgarh, western and interior part of Orissa consisting of Balangir, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Deogarh and Boudh. But between September 4 and 7, only 10 to 15 sluish gates were opened. During these days, water level of the Hirakud reservoir was more than 620ft.