Naidu asks officials to hasten rehab in rains-hit areas

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today directed officials to intensify rescue and rehabilitation efforts in three districts affected by heavy rains in the state.
"I have asked officials of Nellore, Kadapa and Chittor districts to be vigilant for the next 48 hours," he said here.
The Chief Minister appealed social organisations and political parties to voluntarily take up relief activities for the affected in these 3 districts.
"Six persons have died due to rain related incidents in those districts and an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of the victims is being announced. About 15,000 people were shifted to relief camps from the affected areas," he said.

Naidu also announced compensation for houses which are completely and partially damaged.
"As per primary investigations, crops in about 3,155 hectares (of land) were damaged. Two helicopters have been pressed into service in Nellore and 5 helicopters kept standby to meet any kind of emergency," he said.

In addition, 4 teams of National Disaster Response Force have been deployed in rain-hit areas.
Naidu said under the 'Neeru- Chettu '(water and tree) programme undertaken by the state Water Resources Ministry in summer this year water bodies were repaired and restored which ultimately reduced the damages of water bodies and reduced the impact of heavy rains.

Yesterday, heavy rains triggered by the north east monsoon continued to lash several districts of Andhra Pradesh flooding low-lying areas and throwing normal life completely out of gear.
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To a question about the opposition from students who have availed educational loans over the handing of its recovery to a private corporate house, Naidu said he was not aware of the issue.
"I will go back to Delhi and discuss the issue with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley," he said.
Asked for his response to increasing attacks and 'gag' on freedom of press, Naidu, who is also the Information and Broadcasting Minister, said law and order is a state subject.

"The Centre can only send an advisory on the issue to state governments," he said.
On selling Ganga water in public institutions like Post Offices, an issue which had drawn large-scale protests in this part of the country, Naidu said he was not aware of it.
"However, the government is not forcing anybody to buy it," he said.