No reward for saving lives

HYDERABAD: The state government will be honouring two officials from the energy department and a TSRTC employee on Independence Day for saving many lives during the recent heavy rains.

However, it has ignored a group of young individuals, hailing from diverse backgrounds and faiths, who assisted officials at the Kadam project to open four gates that were stuck even as the project was getting swamped by floodwater.

Their collective effort prevented what could have been a disaster. Four of the 18 gates were stuck, slowing down the release of water.

Incidentally, the same group consisting of over 40 members, which operates a WhatsApp group ‘Mana Ooru Kadam Peddavuru” had helped the Kadam officials during heavy inflows into the project last year.

Sadu Surendar, a farmer who led the group, said that they had done it to protect their village from the floods. He said that last year also did the same when the Kadam project was on the brink.

The 35-year-old farmer said, "I informed my ‘Mana Ooru Kadam Peddavuru’ friends to help in lifting the gates. Over 40 youngsters showed up and helped the officials. These youngsters did their bit to protect our village from catastrophe."
Another member, Md Juaned, a driver, said that the state government had failed in fixing the problem that was recurring.

Juaned said, "I urge the state government to recruit locals who are well-versed in the Kadam project. During rains, the unemployed youth are ready to help the project."

Congress leader Vinod Naik said that BRS and BJP leaders visited the project but did nothing. Only Congress leaders collaborated with the youth to save people.

Naik said, “This is the second time a catastrophe has been averted at the Kadam project. We have given several representations and staged protests but to no avail. No one has come to rescue us.” Naik urged the state government to also honour these youngsters on Independence Day.

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• The Kadem project, or Kadem Adi Narayan Reddy project, is a reservoir on the river Kadem, a tributary of the Godavari near Kadem mandal of Nirmal district.

• The project covers over 75,000 acres in Nirmal and Mancherial districts.

• Four out of the 18 gates of the dam got stuck, and could not be opened to discharge floodwater during the recent heavy rains.

• A group of youths physically lifted two gates to allow release of excess water.

• The group created a WhatsAap group, “Mana Ooru Kadam Peddavuru,” had helped lift the gates last year too.

• The government praised two officials of the energy wing for saving many lives.

 

Quotes:

I informed my friends about the danger of project through the WhatsAap group called "Mana Ooru Kadam Peddavuru" and asked them to help us in lifting the gates. Over 40 youngsters showed up and helped in lifting the gates. It took three hours to lift the gates.

Sadu Surendar, a farmer.

I request that the government to recruit young people from the village who are well-versed with the Kadam project. During the rains, they are ready to help the project.

Md Juaned, a driver

This is the second time the catastrophe has averted at the Kadam project. We have given several representations and staged protests over the issues at every possible occasion, no one came to rescue us.

Vinod Naik, Congress leader