Andhra Pradesh

Ministers visit flood-hit areas in Kurnool city

Special Correspondent

Residents agitate against their visit

KURNOOL: Angry residents greeted Ministers Konatala Ramakrishna and M. Mareppa when they toured the flood-hit areas in the city on Saturday. The residents insisted upon the Ministers to foray deep into the streets and individual houses to know the damage.

A group of persons led by former Mayor B. Ananthaiah mobbed M. Mareppa at Budhawarpet protesting against the delay in rendering help to the victims. The Ministers tried to explain to the public that it was nature’s fury and no human failure was involved in it.

Kotla Suryaprakasa Reddy, MP, M.A. Gafoor, MLA, and CPI leaders led by Ramakrishna toured the flood-hit areas and said the loss was heavy though human loss was minimum.

Mr. Ramakrishna urged the Government to pay an ex gratia of Rs. 3 lakh to each bereaved family and Rs. 3,000 for farmers per acre. Also, he asked for Rs. 1,000 and 100 kg rice for each of the affected family as immediately relief and a pucca house later.

Meanwhile, Chandrasekhara Kalkura of ‘Save Hundri Campaign’ urged the authorities to draw a lesson from the situation and clear the riverbed of the encroachments. The Hundri requires space for accommodating two lakh cusecs and its territory should be protected. He said the carrying capacity of river declined sharply due to weed. He suggested that the river be made perennial by releasing a small quantity of water during summer from Gajuladinne, which deprived the downstream people of its water. The river, which cateres to the drinking water needs of Kallur and Budhawarpet in the past became Musi of Kurnool, he said.

Meanwhile, the officials said 36 tanks breached in rural areas. The conditions in many villages is very grim.

Collector M. Dana Kishore said officials were asked to manage the crisis with the resources available locally.

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