Naidu Vows to Focus on Restoration Works in Flood-hit Areas

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has vowed to focus on restoration works as the state’s rescue and flood-relief efforts in the last nine days have reached the final stage.

Naidu visited some affected areas on Monday and also reviewed the relief works in the flood-hit areas. He directed collectors of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Eluru and East Godavari districts to be on high alert and extend all necessary support to the affected people.

Through a teleconference with the collectors and senior officials here, Naidu said a fresh spell of rainfall would hit the north Andhra region and the Godavari districts. Collectors should keep a close watch on the evolving situation, he said.

He asked them to use drones in case rescue teams and vehicles were unable to reach the affected areas. “Assess the floods in canals and strength of bunds. Identify the breach points to Yerra Kaluva by using drones and to keep a check on inflow and outflow of Yeleru reservoir to balance the flow of water,” he said.

When the collector informed the CM that there was a chance for Yeleru reservoir canals suffering fresh breaches at three places, he directed the district administration to take up repair works immediately. Collectors from Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam briefed the CM.

During the day, Naidu inspected the flood-hit areas here and inquired with the victims on the kind of relief they were getting. He promised all governmental support to them.

He said, “I find a lot of difference at Singh Nagar today from the day I came here nine days ago. On the first day of flooding, I found the people with a lot of pain and anxiety. Today, I notice that they have developed confidence in the government. The people lost everything in the floods. The government will provide all help to them.”

The CM said several houses and household appliances were damaged in the floods. The government would rope in a private agency, the Urban Company, to undertake repair works. Based on need, the affected people can call in plumber, electrician, carpenter and others by booking them online for repair works.”

Expressing concern over a section of flood-hit victims losing all their clothe stocks at home, Naidu promised to provide a pair of dress to each of them form state Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society (APCO) and other agencies. “We are using fire tenders for the first time to clean houses from the mud and we are serving food to the marooned people through drones.”

He blamed the previous government again for the floods, saying it ignored proper maintenance of Budameru canal. “This led to breaches and inundation of several low-lying areas. Ministers Nimmala Ramanaidu and Lokesh made efforts to plug the breaches to the canal. Encroachments were obstructing the water flow from Budameru to Kolleru lake,” he said.

Referring to the incident of some boats hitting the Prakasam barrage, the chief minister alleged that some people conspired to do this. Else, why were these boats not anchored when the river was witnessing floods, he asked.