Respite from rains, but some areas remain flooded

Residential areas in several places in rain-hit coastal districts of the state remained under flood water on Wednesday though the heavy rains have stopped. The area remained waterlogged because of poor drainage system in areas of Kakinada, Vijayawada and other coastal towns, official sources said.

 State Home Minister P Sabita Reddy, in-charge minister for East Godavari district, visited some rain-affected areas today.
 Alleging that government had failed to provide adequate relief, opposition TDP leader G Muddukrishnama Naidu demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visit the coastal areas.
 The heavy rains, which followed cyclone Nilam, should be declared a national calamity and the Centre should give a hefty financial assistance, he said.
 YSRCP honorary president Y S Vijayamma, who visited East Godavari district, said her party would raise the issue in the Assembly and ensure proper compensation for those affected.
 Government should convene the Assembly session immediately to discuss the woes of the rain-affected people, she said.

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'YSRCP will protect the interests of the farmers'

YSR Congress party honourary president, YS Vijayamma continued her survey of the flood-hit regions in the state on the third consecutive day. On Wedesnday, she toured the regions around East Godavari that were affected by cyclone.

 

Despite the issue being a serious one and the situation in the regions going from bad to worse due to the heavy rainfall, neither an MLA nor MP has shown any concern, alleged villagers. They also told Vijayamma that when they attempted to make a talk with CM over the issue, they were pushed aside. The YSRCP honourary president who lent a patient ear to the families, promised that she would take up the matter in the Assembly and fight to protect their interests.
Later, she distributed blankets to the families displaced by the floods. After this, she headed to Payakaravupeta in Visakhapatnam.
-Sakshipost

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CM's tour of flood-hit vizag put off

Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy today cancelled his visit to the flood-affected areas of Visakhapatnam district due to the delay in Godavari districts.

 

Due to inclement weather, the Air Traffic Controller in the morning did not permit his aircraft to take off at the Gannavaram airport for nearly one and half hours. It is said that he waited for two hours at the airport and started touring Godavari districts.

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Naidu writes to PM on flood relief operations

Charging TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu with lobbying for political benefit, Government Whips in State Legislative Council Rudraraju Padmaraju and Sivarami Reddy said that Chandrababu Naidu is doing 'Varada Rajakiyam'  (flood politics) in flood-affected areas.

They alleged that Naidu is politicizing the issue, when the farmers ha've been worst hit by the Nilam cyclone.  The exodus of his party MLAs has not stopped, making Naidu behave differently, they added.

Meanwhile, Chandrababu Naidu has written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today. In the letter to the PM, he complained that the state Congress party had neglected relief operations. 

He alleged that it was not proper on the part of the government to not set up a control room on November 5. He also requested the PM to send a team to estimate damage in the flood-affected areas.

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YSRCP demands immediate relief for flood victims

YSR Congress Party today came down heavily on the Government for its total failure in anticipating the intensity of the Nilam cyclone and the resultant floods in the state.

Addressing media persons in Hyderabad, party MLA G.Srikanth Reddy demanded the Government to make immediate arrangements for payment of financial relief to the victims who suffered property and crop losses due to the heavy floods.

Srikanth Reddy said there are neither medical camps nor drinking water supplies in the flood-hit areas. Heavy property and crop losses occurred in Krishna, Guntur, Prakasham and Godavari districts because of the Government’s negligence and the victims should be compensated immediately.

Taking objection to the Minister Raghuvera Reddy’s announcement that there was no danger from the Nialm, Srikanth Reddy sought an explanation from the Minister on what basis he made the statement.

“The Government should openly admit its failure in anticipating the intensity of the natural calamity and take steps for immediate relief to the farmers and others who lost their crops and property,” he demanded.

It is good the Government has announced ex-gratia for the families of those who lost their lives in the floods but immediate announcement of relief for others is also important as well, he said.

Srinkanth Reddy objected to the statements of some ministers that central teams would visit to assess the flood damage. “What is the use of such teams? The Government has not yet paid the input subsidy promised to farmers during the Jal cyclone in the past,” he remarked.

Naidu desperate for power

Srikanth Reddy said TDP President Chandrababu Naidu is desperate for power and his visits to the flood hit areas seemed to be aiming at votes.

During his 9-year rule, Naidu never thought of irrigation, drainage system and loan or interest waiver but now he is making all promises to the people. “He kept quiet when Karnataka built projects during his rule and because of that we are experiencing the floods now,” he said, adding people won’t believe his promises going by his past record.

Srinkanth Reddy objected to the statements of some ministers that central teams would visit to assess the flood damage. “What is the use of such teams? The Government has not yet paid the input subsidy promised to farmers during the Jal cyclone in the past,” he remarked.

- Sakshipost

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East, West Godavari districts in AP still flooded

Hundreds of villages in East Godavari and West Godavari districts remained inundated Tuesday though flood water was receding and life was limping back to normal in other affected districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Remote villages, including tribal hamlets, in the two Godavari districts remained cut off from rest of the state. Without food and drinking water for the last couple of days, people were still waiting for relief to reach them.
Officials said they were making efforts to provide relief to the marooned villages in the worst-hit districts.
With water levels receding in the swollen rivulets, overflowing  reservoirs and tanks, the extent of devastation is becoming evident.
The heavy rains for nearly a week claimed 25 lives and rendered thousands of people homeless. Villages and towns in eight districts were inundated. About 70,000 people were sheltered in relief camps. The floods damaged crops over five lakh hectares, roads and railway tracks.
Several colonies in Vijayawada city in Krishna district remained under water. A similar situation is prevailing in Kakinada town of East Godavari district.
In East and West Godavari districts, famous as the rice bowl of the state, standing paddy and cotton crops over seven lakh acres were damaged.
Officials said the exact extent of damage would be known only after a detailed enumeration at the field level.

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