AP govt should revise relief norms: Naidu

Rajahmundry, Aug 10: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu today demanded that the Andhra Pradesh government revise the relief norms in order to provide double the quantum of assistance to people affected by natural calamities.

Mr Naidu, who toured some of the flood-hit villages in Ayinavilli mandal and Mummidivaram yesterday told reporters here that since there would be no agricultural activity immediately, the affected villagers should be supplied with kerosene, milk and 40 kg of rice.

Farmers should be provided with input subsidy and all loans rescheduled besides waiving of interest, the former chief minister said adding the government should come to help the poor people.

Mr Naidu said as an opposition leader he wanted to interact with the people in the relief camp at Amalapuram, but in the name of security arrangements for UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi's visit, he was denied permission.

Alleging that the government had reduced the compensation amount from 1.5 lakh to Rs 50,000 given through the 'Apadbandhu' scheme, the TDP chief said the government had not only failed in carrying out rescue operations but also did not take steps to stock adequate quantity of rice and kerosene, among other things to meet the situation.

UNI