Date:19/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/19/stories/2006081908120400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Naidu seeks Rs. 1,000-crore aid

Special Correspondent

Telugu Desam Party president alleges discrimination in distribution of relief

Accuses Ministers of remaining indifferent to the plight of victims and failing to tour the affected areas
Rs. 3 lakhs each sought as ex gratia to the families of 130 people who died in floods

Left parties want Polavaram project re-designed

FOLLOW THE LEADER: Telugu Desam MLAs led by party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu coming out of the House after it was adjourned on Friday. Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

HYDERABAD: Charging the Government with failing to take proper precautionary and post-flood relief measures, Leader of the Opposition, N. Chandrababu Naidu, demanded that Rs.1,000 crores be released immediately to the affected districts for rehabilitation and restoration works.

Initiating the debate on flood relief measures in the Assembly on Friday, he said the loss of lives and properties could have been prevented to a large extent had the Government followed the norms for controlling floods in Godavari such as strengthening of bunds and placing sand bags to check breaches. There was no coordination between the Central Water Commission and the Irrigation Department.

He said the administration, which had earned a good name during the floods in 1986, 1996 and also in Orissa, had attracted criticism now. Fundamental principles were not followed in relief measures and curd rice was distributed instead of supplying food packets that could be preserved. Discrimination was shown on political grounds while providing relief.

Mr. Naidu accused the Ministers of remaining indifferent to the plight of victims and failing to tour the affected areas immediately. He said the relief amounts paid by Maharashtra and Chattisgarh were higher and alleged that the State Government had not properly projected the estimated loss to the Centre.

Among others things, he wanted Rs. 3 lakhs each as ex gratia to the families of 130 people who died in floods, rescheduling of loans, waiver of interest on them, abolition of college fee and construction of houses under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) for those whose dwellings were completely damaged.

Resolution sought

Ch. Venkata Reddy (CPI) proposed that an all-party delegation meet the Prime Minister and seek Rs 1,000-crore assistance for works that would serve as a permanent solution to the problem of recurring floods. He wanted the House to adopt a resolution demanding that the Centre treat floods as a national calamity and sanction funds. T. Veerabhadram, CPI (M), said the water level of the Godavari at Bhadrachalam would go up by 17 ft over the maximum point touched during the recent floods (67 ft) if the Polavaram project was constructed. A. Govinda Naik (TRS) said the Penganga river inundated many villages in Sirpur, Bejjur, Koutala and Jainad mandals in Adilabad district.