TDP wants Centre to declare AP deluge as national calamity

The Telugu Desam Party has requested the Centre to declare the recent severe floods in Andhra Pradesh as a national calamity and extend full financial assistance to the affected persons.
In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today, TDP president and Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu pointed out that the recent heavy rains and floods left 53 persons dead, crops in 12 lakh hectares submerged, besides damaging 50,000 houses in 16 districts of the state.
The deluge also caused destruction of infrastructure like irrigation tanks and roads in the state.
"Though the rain fury has abated, crops in lakhs of acres in many districts still remain inundated. The state government is yet to focus on rehabilitation of affected people," he said.

The TDP chief requested the Prime Minister to send Central teams to AP immediately to assess the extent of damage and extend liberal assistance to the affected sections.
Chandrababu regretted that the amount announced towards relief after the natural calamities in 2012 was yet to be distributed to the affected people.

"I request you to direct Central agencies like FCI, Nafed and Cotton Corporation of India to procure damaged paddy, maize and cotton and provide relief to farmers.
Besides, financial assistance of Rs 20,000 per acre and Rs 10,000 per acre should be extended to cotton and paddy farmers respectively in view of the huge losses suffered," the Leader of Opposition requested.

He wanted ex-gratia payment enhanced to Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased.