Bhubaneswar: The Ganjam floods following Cyclone Arnab sparked a fresh political slugfest on Tuesday, with leader of opposition Naveen Patnaik writing a strongly worded letter to chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, accusing BJP govt of failing to prepare for the deluge despite advance warning. The BJP reacted sharply, claiming that what Ganjam is facing today is the result of years of neglect by the previous BJD govt.Calling the floods a “manmade crisis” that had set Ganjam back by several years, Naveen asked govt to take responsibility and fix accountability for the alleged lapses. In a stinging attack, the former chief minister warned that the progress achieved during BJD’s 24 years in office could be undone in just 24 months by BJP’s “double engine sarkar”.The post-cyclone floods affected more than four lakh families in Ganjam, with seven people killed in landslides and six others still missing.In his letter, the BJD president said his Nov 7 visit to Hinjili, Sheragada, Aska and Sorada exposed the extent of distress among farmers, women, small traders and others. He alleged the floods caused extensive damage to infrastructure and crops, besides claiming lives and destroying livelihoods.He questioned govt’s preparedness despite IMD issuing an advance warning. Alleging that authorities failed to act decisively, Naveen said timely action could have prevented much of the suffering. He also alleged that advisories about the intensity of rainfall were not issued on time.Naveen urged govt to focus on rehabilitation and reconstruction and ensure timely compensation for affected farmers, women, youth and small traders, warning that BJD would take up their cause “from Palli to Delhi” if govt failed to act.Dismissing Naveen’s charges, law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said there is no meaning in writing a letter. “Man does not create floods. The impact Ganjam is facing today is the result of years of neglect when he governed the state. His long neglect of Ganjam and vote-bank politics are showing their consequences now,” Harichandan said.“Let me make it very clear. From evacuation to relief and restoration, the govt has carried out every operation with utmost sincerity,” he added.Meanwhile, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das blamed both BJP and BJD for the Ganjam floods, accusing the present govt of faulty water management and the previous dispensation of failing to find a lasting solution despite being in power for 24 years.Addressing the media at Congress Bhawan after a three-day tour of flood-hit Ganjam and Gajapati, Das said BJP govt lacked the foresight needed to deal with post-cyclone flooding.He claimed that despite repeated IMD warnings, water levels in six dams were not lowered between Oct 23 and 28. He also accused govt of failing to adequately empower officials to respond effectively during natural disasters.Das further accused BJP leaders of lacking the sensitivity and compassion to understand the scale of destruction and human suffering caused by the floods. He also questioned why relief materials for flood-hit people were being distributed through BJP workers.