AP deluge victims await relief

Victims of heavy rains and floods in the state are still struggling to get back to normal life, as the state government is yet to deliver the relief as promised by Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy.
Collectors of rain-ravaged districts have been constantly requesting the concerned authorities in the state Secretariat here to issue necessary orders so that funds could be drawn and distributed to the affected, but to no avail.
"I have taken up the issue with the Disaster Management Commissioner at least three times in the last four days and he assured the orders would be issued by evening... But that only remained as an assurance," collector of a coastal district, which suffered heavy damage in the deluge, said.

The government's indifference is drawing flak from the Opposition parties that have launched a scathing attack over the poor distribution of relief to the flood victims.
Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu staged a dharna on the road in a village in East Godavari district the other day demanding immediate disbursal of relief amount even as he lashed out at the Chief Minister for making empty promises.
More than 50,000 houses were damaged in 16 districts across the state, rending thousands of people homeless.

While touring the flood-affected districts like Prakasam, Guntur, West Godavari, East Godavari and Visakhapatnam, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy announced that 20 kg rice (up from earlier 10 kg) and an amount of Rs 5000 (up from earlier Rs 3000) towards clothes and utensils would be distributed as temporary relief to each family hit by heavy rains and floods.

Farmers, who suffered crop loss, were promised an input subsidy of Rs 10,000 per hectare.
More than a week after the Chief Minister's promises, orders were not issued by the state government enhancing the temporary relief because of which the district Collectors were finding it difficult to draw the amount from the treasuries and distribute to the victims.