Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu orders urgent relief measures in flood-hit areas

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday told the officials to expedite the process of restoration of power supply in the areas that received heavy rains due to the deep depression in the Bay of Bengal and to distribute 50 kg of rice free of cost to each one of the fisherfolk families who could not venture into the sea for the last five days.

Taking stock of the situation in a teleconference along with Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu and Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad and other senior officials, Mr. Naidu said Vamsadhara water should be diverted into the Hiramandalam reservoir to utilise the floodwaters to the extent possible.

‘Assess crop loss’

He ordered that relief measures be taken urgently in the waterlogged areas and steps initiated to assess the loss incurred by the agriculture sector so that compensation could be paid with contribution from the Central government.

The Chief Minister ordered that reservoirs across the State be filled with rainwater and called for plans to construct two barrages, one upstream and one downstream of Prakasam Barrage, to impound the local floodwaters and they be sent to the Centre for approval.

The officials told Mr. Naidu that there were no inflows into the Krishna and the rise in water level at Prakasam Barrage was due to the local floods.

Rainfall deficit

Officials explained that the overall rainfall deficit dropped from 50% to 31% due to recent rains. Coastal Andhra had 19.80% deficit while Rayalaseema 42% deficit. Though rains subsided for now, river inflows from upstream areas in North Andhra continued, they said.