Govt will streamline canal and drainage system: CM

Ongole, Andhra Pradesh, Nov 2: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today announced that his government would streamline the canal and drainage system in the Godavari and Krishna delta area to avoid floods in the future.

The Chief Minister who travelled by train and reached here to inspect the flood damage, told mediapersons here, Dr Reddy said that the government would give a compensation of Rs 750 per acre to farmers owning 2.5 acres of wet and 5 acres of dry land for having lost standing crops.

He said the government would also consider payment to farmers with larger holdings.

Dr Reddy assured the farming community that the government would talk to insurance companies and try to arrange compensation to farmers to avoid future mishaps. He also announced that the government would supply seed at 50 percent subsidy to farmers who lost their crops, for taking up sowing after the floods recede.

On modernisation of the canal and drainage system, the Chief Minister said the government would not hesitate to spend Rs 5,000 crore or even Rs 10,000 crore to avoid floods in the future.

He said the government would prepare a plan in six months, itself or engage a private agency. Work would be started within an year-and-a-half.

Dr Reddy said in 1986, the then (TDP) government ordered strengthening of the bund of Godavari. But it abandoned the work after completing only 20 to 30 km and alleged this was the reason why the area was facing frequent floods. He said his government would strengthen the entire bund of river Godavari to ensure that there would be no flood threat in future.

On the flood situation in Chirala town, he said the canal system, built by Sir Arthur Cotton 150 years ago, was not modernised. The state government would modernise the canal system in Chirala and Ongole towns.

He said the government was supplying 20 kgs of rice and 5 litres of kerosene to each of the families affected by the floods and to handloom weavers who had lost their work due to the floods.

Travelling in a Hi-Tech APSRTC bus, Dr Reddy started his tour of the flood-hit areas from Chirala. He visited Jayantipet, Bijilipet, Mariyammapet and other areas.

At Chirala the wife of one viictim Jyothi Babu, who was swept away in flood waters, complained to the Chief Miniter that her husband's body was yet to be traced. Dr Reddy assured her that he would instruct the officials to trace the body immediately. He also assured her that the government would provide succour to the family.

He also visited Karamchedu where he shifted into a jeep for inspecting the breach in the canal. He also visited a colony which was submerged.

In all the places he visited, the affected people complained to the Chief Minister about the apathetic attitude of the revenue officials. He assured that all help would be rendered to them.

Union Minister Purandhareswari, State Finance Minister K Rosaiah, Agriculture Minister Raghuveera Reddy and local MP J D Seelam accompanied the Chief Minister.

Dr Reddy held a review meeting with the officials after his three-hour visit of the flood affected areas of Prakasam district. He issued a stern warning to officials that any laxity in relief measures in the grave calamity would be viewed seriously. Later, talking to newsmen, he said he had asked the local MLAs and MPs to supervise relief operations.

He also announced that the government would complete modernisation of the canal systems within three years.

He then left for a tour of the Guntur and Krishna districts.

He would leave for Hyderabad by train tonight.

UNI