Govt will stand by the people’

Observing that relief operation is in full swing in the flood-affected areas in the State, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, on Wednesday, promised to stand by the victims and provide whatever assistance they need.
After visiting the flood-hit areas near Vijayawada, the Chief Minister told media persons at the NTR District Collectorate that this is the worst devastation that he had ever seen in his lifetime. Operation to fill the conduits near Budameru is going on, the Chief Minister said that the State government will bear the expenses of operating private boats and if the boat operators collect money from the flood victims they will be sent to jail.
The Chief Minister felt that Budameru has become a major problem for Vijayawada and said that since all small rivulets merged into Bugameru it has now turned into a serious issue. The previous government has completely neglected Budameru, Chandrababu said, adding that the encroachments in the lakes and the Budameru flow channels will be removed.
Expressing concern that the YSRCP leaders are resorting to false propaganda that Amaravathi has submerged when the people are in deep distress, the Chief Minister opined that the political criminals and those who resort to fake publicity should be excommunicated from society. “When I am striving so hard for the people, these YSRCP leaders are coming in the way like monsters,” Chandrababu said.
The entire official machinery is on the field extending all possible assistance to the flood-hit, Chandrababu said that food could be supplied to 91 per cent of the victims by 11.30 am on Wednesday. Through IVRS feedback is being collected from the people three times a day to correct the faults, if any, to serve the victims in a better way, he remarked.
Maintaining that food is being supplied to the flood-affected after thoroughly checking its quality, the Chief Minister said that the State government is moving ahead in a perfect manner. Ministers Lokesh and Nimmal Ramanaidu are personally overseeing the works to fill the trenches and also steps are being taken to restore power-supply, the Chief Minister said.
Drinking water is being supplied to the people through 182 tanks and the water supply through civic connections too is being restored, he said, adding that medical camps are being organised where necessary medicines are being supplied. Sanitation works, too, are taken up, he said.
Announcing Rs 5 lakh as ex gratia to each family of those who died in these flash floods, the Chief Minister said that 32 IAS officers are on the field to supervise the relief operations. Under the supervision of the MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni), a team is thoroughly studying whether any inflows are coming from anywhere, Chandrababu said.
Thanking the employees for voluntarily coming forward to extend their assistance to the flood victims, the Chief Minister said that the State government employees have announced one-day salary as relief to the flood-hit. Chandrababu Naidu said that special outlets are being set up to sell vegetables at very reasonable prices.