CM KCR commences aerial survey in flood-hit Bhadrachalam

Bhadrachalam: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Sunday commenced the aerial survey around Eturunagaram. He assessed the damaged caused by heavy rains and also the flood flow in river Godavari. He reached ITDA guest house and had lunch with officials. He visited the submerged areas and interacted with affected families of the floods. He will also have a glimpse of photo exhibition on floods

Earlier, CM KCR announced Rs 1000 crore package to construct a permanent colony in higher altitude in the temple town of Bhadrachalam. He wanted to address the submergence problems permanently. He said that Bhadrachalam and Pinapaka assembly constituencies badly affected due to heavy rains. There was no loss of life reported in the heavy rains. The government is committed to resolve the submergence issues on a permanent basis.

The Chief Minister also instructed State Health Director G Srinivas to take up necessary measures to curb the spread of communicable diseases.

Announcing that steps will also be taken to prevent submergence of Lord Rama Temple during heavy rains, the CM said he will visit the temple town soon.

The CM also announced free distribution of 20 kg Rice for two months to the people who were living in submerged places. Rs 10,000 as immediate relief will also be given to each family. He suggested people to be on high alert for 15 days. The CM thanked all officials for strictly adhering the instructions from Hyderabad and saved people lives during heavy rains for a week in Telangana recently.

Earlier in the day, as a part of his aerial survey and inspection of flood-affected areas, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Sunday visited Gangamma temple near Godavari river and performed puja. Later, he reached Bhadrachalam ZC High School where rehabilitation centre was setup for the flood victims before inspecting river bund at Godavari river.

He interacted with the flood victims and inquired about the facilities being provided the officials there. The victims there told CM KCR that Transport Minister Puvvada Ajay and other officials are taking utmost care of them. They also conveyed gratitude to CM KCR for his visit even during the flood-like situation in the district.

CM KCR said that it is sad that people of Bhadrachalam have to suffer a lot during the raining season. He said that an action plan will be chalked out soon to bring a permanent solution to Bhadrachalam.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's aerial survey of flood-affected areas in erstwhile Warangal and Khammam districts was called off due to inclement weather on Monday.

Instead, the Chief Minister left by road to inspect the flood-affected areas in Mulugu district on Sunday. As a part of his visit, he will first visit the Pushkar Ghat at Ramannagudem in Eturunagaram to know the flood flow in the River Godavari, and later meet the flood victims.

He will also conduct a review meeting with the District Collector S Krishna Aditya, ITDA, PO, Ankit, and other officials along with the people's representatives including Ministers T Harish Rao, E Dayakar Rao, Satyavathi Rathod, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar and DGP Mahender Reddy on the damage caused by the rains and floods in the district at the ITDA office at Eturnagaram.

Later, he is likely to visit Bhadrachalam to oversee the flood relief activities and assess the flood situation in the temple town as the River Godavari was receiving heavy inflows.

Minister Satyavathi Rathod, Mulugu ZP chairman Kusuma Jagadish along with the officials inspected the arrangements and flood relief activities at Ramannagudem ahead of the Chief Minister's tour.

Earlier, stressing the need for the permanent protection of people living along the banks of the Godavari in Telangana, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has directed officials to chalk out an action plan. He addressed a review meeting with Ministers T Harish Rao, Errabelli Dayakar Rao, Satyavathi Rathod, Government Chief Whip Dasyam Vinay Bhaskar and others on the flood situation and damage caused by the recent rains in erstwhile Warangal district, at the residence of senior TRS leader and former MP V Lakshmikantha Rao here on Saturday evening.

The Chief Minister directed Harish to take immediate steps to release Rs 1 crore each to the Collectors of flood-ravaged Bhadradri-Kothagudem, Mulugu, Jayashankar Bhupalpally and Nirmal districts for emergency use. He enquired with the officials about the flood flow in the Godavari and contour levels of the river and its tributaries.

Irrigation Department officials were asked the number of times the river had recorded lakhs of cusecs of flood flow in the past. He also sought to know the strength of the embankments/protection walls on its banks from Kaleshwaram to Bhadrachalam via Eturnagaram and Mangapet.

Chandrashekhar Rao said the flood capacity of the Kaddam project was only 2.95 lakh cusecs, but the project had received five lakh cusecs which was unprecedented in history. Considering this rare occurrence, he said there is a need to carry out a comprehensive survey and shift the people living in low-lying areas to safer places. He advised officials concerned to take suggestions of retired and expert engineers, who have worked in the Irrigation Department.

The Chief Minister directed the District Collectors to provide all sorts of relief to the people suffering from inundation in low-lying areas. Referring to the possibility of a spike in seasonal diseases in flood-affected areas, he directed Harisha Rao to take steps to set up medical camps on a war-footing. He also asked the Collectors to be alert as the flood flow in Godavari is likely to continue for a few days. He said a high-level review would be held with officials in Eturnagaram after conducting an aerial survey along the Godavari catchment areas in erstwhile Warangal and Khammam districts on Sunday.

MPs Pasunuri Dayakar and Joginipally Santosh Kumar, MLCs Kadiam Srihari, S Madhusudanachari, Baswaraj Saraiah, Takkalapally Ravinder Rao, Banda Prakash, Pochampally Srinivasa Reddy and Padi Kaushik Reddy, MLAs Redya Naik, Nannapuneni Narender, Aruri Ramesh, Voditela Satish Babu, Dr T Rajaiah, Bantoh Shankar Naik, Peddi Sudarshan Reddy, Gandra Venkataramana Reddy and Muthireddy Yadagiri Reddy, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, DGP M Mahender Reddy, CMO Secretary Smita Sabharwal and others attended the review meeting.