CM urges PM to declare AP flood as "National Calamity"

Hyderabad, Aug 7 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh requesting the Central Government to declare floods in the State as ''National Calamity''.

He urged Dr Singh to release a sum of Rs.180 crore, which the State was entitled to in advance towards second instalment of C R F, normally due for release in December, 2006. This request was made, pending consideration of the memorandum, which the State Government would submit in due course, he added.

The flood discharge at Dowleshwaram, which was the last structure on the river Godavari, had reached to a level as high as 28.5 lakh cusecs, he added.

The flood caused due to the heavy rainfall in western tributaries of Godavari, was expected to remain at this level for the next few days, he said.

He said in all, 100 lives had been lost, more than 1.15 lakh people had to be evacuated from the 5,412 villages, which had been affected. Initial reports indicated an inundation of over 9.23 lakh acres with at least 67,000 houses, being fully or partly damaged, he added.

Dr Reddy said the extent of loss can only be assessed over the next few days as the flood waters have not yet receded in the districts of Khammam, West Godavari and East Godavari. Around 435 relief camps were organised for displaced persons, he added.

AICC President Sonia Gandhi will visit the State, either on August nine or ten, according to reliable sources.

The Union Home Minister also proposed to conduct an aerial inspection of the affected areas on August nine, a release from the Chief Minister's office said.

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