CM briefs the Central Team about crop damages and loss of infrastructure
Flood damage is estimated at a staggering Rs 10,320 crores
HYDERABAD, SEPTEMBER 13, 2024: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has again requested the Union Government to extend immediate financial assistance to the flood-affected Telangana state which suffered huge rain-related damages. The Chief Minister urged all-out help from the Centre without any conditions to provide relief to the affected people in the state. The CM also emphasized that the strict rules which are being implemented by the Centre for the utilization of the disaster funds should be relaxed.
The CM brought to the notice of the central team the hurdles being faced by the state government in the utilization of at least one rupee from the available Rs 1350 crore NDRF funds, even if the state is submerged, due to the stringent central regulations. The guidelines have prescribed the utilization of only Rs one lakh for the repair of damaged roads on a one km stretch, the CM said that it would not be possible to take up even temporary repairs of the damaged roads with such meagre charges for repairs fixed by the Centre.
The Chief Minister said that the details of the SSR rates in the state will also be included in the flood damage report which is to be submitted to the Centre and requested the central team to examine the report and provide disaster relief.
The Chief Minister briefed the central team about the recent heavy rains and colossal damages caused due to flood fury in the state. According to the comprehensive estimates compiled by the various departments, the damage incurred due to recent floods and heavy rains is at a staggering Rs 10,320 crores. A final report of the damages is under preparation.
The Chief Minister said that the loss of human lives could be reduced due to the strict vigilance by the ministers and officials in the flood-hit areas. Thousands of houses are damaged and crops washed away in the lakhs of acres under the influence of rain fury. The farmers bore the brunt of heavy rains after the agricultural fields were covered with boulders, gravel and mud. The CM explained to the central team that the damage to roads, culverts and lakes exceeded the preliminary enumeration.
CM Revanth Reddy met with a group of central officials who arrived in the state to assess the damages caused by the floods which wreaked havoc in the state. Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Khammam MP Raghuram Reddy, Chief Minister Advisor Vem Narender Reddy, Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari and other top officials participated in the meeting held at the Secretariat on Friday.
The Chief Minister said that the construction of a retaining wall at Munneru Vagu will be a permanent solution to prevent the threat of floods in Khammam town in the future. The CM pleaded with the Centre to allocate adequate funds for the construction of the retaining wall and the state is ready to release its share of funds. The Government will sanction houses to the flood-affected people in Rakasi tanda, Satyanarayana thanda and the people of other tribal habitations in the low-lying areas in nearby safe areas, the CM said requesting the centre to provide necessary assistance for the construction of houses.
CM Revanth Reddy asserted that the centre should focus more on preventive measures instead of providing support after the floods and natural calamities to the affected states. The Chief Minister also suggested to the central team to focus more on making arrangements for early warning of weather and environmental disasters like heavy rainfall and heat waves.
The CM informed the central team that the police battalions located in different districts will be used to help and take immediate relief measures during the floods in the future. Special training will be provided to 100 selected people in each battalion, the CM said the government is seeking the NDRF’s help to provide the necessary equipment, training and skills to tackle natural disasters.
The recent incident of uprooting of trees on nearly 50,000 acres in the Medaram forest area also came up for discussion in the meeting. The Chief Minister opined that no human loss was reported since the incident happened in the forest area. A major disaster could have occurred if such a big incident had been reported in the plain areas. The central team said that they have not come across such an incident in the country so far. The Chief Minister requested the central team to depute experts to conduct a scientific study on the disaster and also examine the precautions which needs to be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
A group of central officials from Delhi divided into two groups and toured flood-affected Khammam, Mahbubabad and Suryapet districts for two days. The teams Inspected the damages in the flood-affected areas. NDMA advisor Colonel KP Singh is heading the central team and Shantinath Shivappa, Mahesh Kumar, Nayal Kansan, Rakesh Meena and Shashivardhan Reddy are the members.
