1,700 teams formed to assess flood damage

Housing and I & PR Minister Kolusu Parthasarathy has said that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is being widely praised for his swift actions during the recent floods.
Speaking to the media on Monday, the Minister noted that Vijayawada has experienced unprecedented floods over the past nine days, something unseen since the construction of the Prakasam Barrage. The floods reached record levels, but the government has faced the crisis with courage. In response, IAS officers, senior officials, ministers, public representatives, authorities, party administrators, and secretariat staff are actively monitoring and working to address the situation, he added.
The Minister further explained that 1,700 enumeration teams have been formed to assess the flood damage. Each team, consisting of a Deputy Tehsildar, Revenue Inspector, Ward Assistant, and a police officer, will take part in the assessment process. Additionally, an IAS officer, a district-level officer, and a local public representative will oversee each secretariat. It is estimated that 2,50,000 houses have been damaged.
A special app has been developed to register damage assessments,  the Minister said and assured that if residents are not present at home, assessments will be carried out later, ensuring no one is left out. All individuals who have lost belongings will have their details recorded in the app. The government is committed to providing compensation to all those affected by the floods, he stated.
The Minister expressed concern for agricultural and horticultural farmers, who have suffered significant losses. However, he reassured them that the government stands with every farmer, and there is no need for concern.
Minister Parthasarathy also mentioned the risk of viral fevers due to the ongoing rains, noting that the government had anticipated this and launched sanitation programmes with 4,000 to 5,000 personnel. Around 100 to 120 fire engines and pumps are being used to clean roads and affected homes.
He criticised the previous YSRCP government for neglecting canal repairs and failing to allocate funds for maintenance. He claimed that breaches in the canals and illegal encroachments, which were ignored.