Chouhan assures full Central help to flood-affected Andhra Pradesh

The team, headed by Sanjeev Kumar Jindal, visited Vijayawada, the worst-affected place, to estimate the losses and destruction, said an official press release

The Central government will do a full assessment of the damages suffered due to devastating floods in districts of Andhra Pradesh and provide all help to the state government to help affected people build their lives again, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Thursday.

Chouhan, who is on a tour of the flood-affected districts of the state and also that of Telangana, lauded Chandrababu Naidu government for providing quick relief to the flood-affected people and assured that the Central government won’t be found lacking in supporting the state’s efforts.

He also assured the farmers that the Centre would take care of all their crop damages and provide adequate compensation. 

In Delhi, the Union Finance Ministry directed the PSU insurance companies to swiftly settle the claims by organising special camps for those affected by heavy rains and floods in the two states.

The insurance companies have been also asked to widely advertise the names and contact numbers of nodal officers to whom the policyholders can contact.

Meanwhile, an inter-ministerial team from the Central government also began its visit of the flood-affected districts in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday.

The team headed by Sanjeev Kumar Jindal visited Vijayawada, the worst-affected area, to estimate the losses and destruction, said an official press release.

The central panel visited the State Emergency Operations Centre in the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) office in Tadepalli, where officials briefed them.

Later, the officials also visited Prakasam Barrage, which was recently hit by three large drifting boats, damaging a concrete beam.

As the flood waters began to recede at many places, Vijayawada civic body workers were busy in sanitation work and also restoring water supply.

Vijayawada Municipal Commissioner HM Dhyanachandra said people should refrain from drinking the restored municipal tap water at the moment as it was not potable.

Chief Minister Naidu too has said that water supplied by the municipality should not be used for the first two days at least as it has to be tested for quality, considering its muddied nature due to the unprecedented deluge.

Meanwhile, drinking water is also being supplied to the flood-hit areas through water tankers and several people were seen collecting it in containers. Around 200 tankers are supplying drinking water.

Further, the municipal commissioner said that flood water had “receded largely” and 80 per cent of the flood-affected areas were accessible, except some wards in and around the Nunna area.

“There is no more information that (water level) Budameru will increase...The irrigation department is also trying to close the Budameru breach,” he said, adding that civil supplies could begin distribution of provisions from Friday.

A resident of Ajit Singh Nagar, the worst-affected area, told PTI that many people returned to their homes as flood water had receded.