Focus on ration supply, fiscal aid: CM to officials

Vijayawada: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday directed the officials to focus on relief measures and supply of ration supplies along with financial aid of Rs 2,000 to all flood victims in the next 48 hours. There is some respite in the flood situation in the coastal districts with the water level in the Godavari river receding in the past two days.

Reviewing the situation at his Tadepalli office, the Chief Minister said the officials need to be proactive so as to not hear any complaint on not getting relief by the flood-affected people and emphasised on intensifying the distribution of ration supplies consisting of 25 kg of rice, 1 kg of dal, 1 kg of potatoes, 1 kg of palm oil, and 1 kg of onions and financial aid in each affected village.

He directed the District Collectors to take this as a challenge and work efficiently by making use of volunteers and village/ward secretariat staff. He said that the current scenario has been changed from having only two Collectors for the two Godavari districts to six Collectors, six Joint Collectors, and six SPs, with a complete system at hand.

The opposition parties, with a section of media, are trying to undermine the morale of those tirelessly working in this situation and said that they were defaming the State for political gains. Such malicious propaganda should be countered, by showcasing the work being done he said and directed the officials not to hold back from giving their best.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to act on humanitarian grounds in dealing with flood victims and told them to provide good food and safe drinking water ensuring proper hygiene in the relief camps. As officials stated that so far one person died due to floods, he asked them to provide immediate relief to the kin of the deceased.

He instructed the officials to focus on providing emergency medical services with required physicians and staff, as infections are likely to spread due to floods. He said priority should be accorded to power restoration works, plugging of breaches to canals in case of damage and for supply of drinking water to the affected areas and resolve them within the next 48 hours. Also, he directed the authorities to take up estimating crop damage after the flood recedes and complete the exercise within 10 days.

The Chief Minister ordered to shift sanitation staff from neighboring districts to flood-affected areas and intensify sanitation programs alongside providing accommodation and food facilities for the staff. As soon as the water recedes, the officials have been ordered to inspect the culverts and bridges and make necessary repairs.