Hyderabad, Oct 12 (Inditop.com) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah had to face the ire of flood victims for the second successive day Monday during his visit to the worst-hit areas.
The victims Monday tried to stop his motorcade in Kurnool town, which was devastated by the floods caused by the Krishna river and its tributaries.
Raising slogans, the victims alleged that relief was yet to reach them. They also insisted that the chief minister see their damaged houses in the interior areas.
Activists of Students Federation of India (SFI) also stopped Rosiah’s convoy Monday demanding that the government come to the rescue of students who were badly affected by the floods.
He had to face similar protests at Alampur in Mahabubnagar and Kurnool town Sunday. Protesters threw stones at his convoy at one village in Kurnool district.
The chief minister later told reporters that the protests by victims during his visit was understandable. He said that people who had lost their houses and everything in the floods were angry over not receiving assistance.
“If everything is fine they would not have staged the protests,” he said.
“It may not be possible to compensate for all the losses you suffered but we will do our best to help you,” Rosaiah told victims in Kurnool town.
The chief minister promised to arrange Rs.50,000 loans under ‘Pavala Vaddi’ scheme at 25 paise interest for the small traders.
He said all efforts were being made to restore normalcy in the town. Besides the district administration, ministers Manikya Varaprasad and Shilpa Mohan Reddy, MPs and legislators will review the situation daily.
Rosiah visited Nandyal town in Kurnool district, which was also badly hit by the floods. He went around the areas submerged and met those affected. The chief minister promised to render all possible help.
He assured that new houses would be built for all those whose houses were damaged in the floods. He denied the claim by opposition leader N. Chandrababu Naidu that the Central Water Commission had warned the state government about the flood threat in Krishna river.
Naidu, who is also visiting flood-hit areas, alleged that the disaster was man-made. He said the government had failed to manage the waters in the river leading to inundation of hundreds of villages.
After visiting parts of Mahabubnagar and Kurnool districts, the chief minister left for Guntur and Krishna districts, which were also badly hit.
The floods claimed 65 lives in five districts, inundating several towns and 500 villages. It affected over 1.5 million people, rendered half a million homeless and damaged houses, public infrastructure and crops.
According to initial estimates by the government, the state suffered damages to the tune of Rs.12,666 crore (Rs.127 billion / $2.73 billion).
