Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has appealed to the Centre to extend flood relief to Telangana, on par with the assistance provided to Andhra Pradesh. He emphasised that flood-related damages in Telangana should be treated equally, particularly in districts like Khammam and Mahbubnagar, which border Andhra Pradesh and have suffered significant damage similar to the neighbouring state.
Revanth Reddy was speaking at a meeting with Union ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, who had completed an aerial survey of flood-affected areas, at the Secretariat on Friday.
The Chief Minister requested the Union ministers to consider easing the rules for disaster fund allocation. He pointed out that until 2021, states could access the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) after utilising 50 per cent of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). However, the new guidelines mandate that states must spend all the SDRF money before accessing the NDRF.
Revanth Reddy also appealed for an increase in the prescribed unit prices for repair and restoration work in flood-affected areas. Officials informed the ministers that `60 crore was required for immediate repairs to damaged ponds, but the current rates allow ` 4 crore.
Union minister Chouhan said that there would be no place for politics when it came to providing relief and rehabilitation to people affected by natural calamities.
The Chief Minister also presented a detailed account of the damages caused by heavy rain and floods, estimating a preliminary loss of `5,438 crore. He explained that all departments were assessing the field-level damages, and the final report is expected to show an even higher figure.
Revanth Reddy highlighted the severity of the flood damage caused by the recent torrential rains, particularly in Khammam, Mahbubnagar, and Suryapet districts, which received up to 40 cm of rainfall in a single day.
He said that while the state government’s prompt action prevented significant loss of life, the infrastructure suffered extensive damage.
In a PowerPoint presentation, the Chief Minister outlined the destruction of national highways, roads, houses, and bridges. He also highlighted the condition of the railway tracks in Mahabubabad district, which were severely damaged by washed-away embankments, leading to the suspension of train services.
Revanth Reddy brought to the ministers' attention the plight of flood-affected people in rural areas and the significant damage to crops due to sand, stones, and debris covering farmlands. The state government has already disbursed `10,000 as immediate relief to each flood-affected family.
