CM visits flood-hit Kamareddy, wants depts to work in close coordination for relief work

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has stressed the need for effective coordination among all departments in taking up relief and rehabilitation works in the flood-hit areas. He expressed dissatisfaction that coordination between the departments concerned was not upto the expected levels.

Mr. Revanth Reddy made these comments during his visit to several areas in Kamareddy district on Thursday. He cited the example of roads which were being maintained by different departments like Panchayat Raj, Roads & Buildings and Municipal Administration. “Crisis doesn’t know that work is divided between different departments. The departments are not expected to work in silos,” he said.

He directed collectors to work in close coordination with departments so that works were more effective. “Internal coordination is very important in effectively mitigating the plight of the affected. Collectors should see that departments work together,” he said.

The departments including agriculture, health, drinking water, NREGS and others should join hands in effectively addressing the problems of the people rather than working aloof. Officials should deal with the crisis situation in an apolitical manner by addressing the concerns of the people in all the constituencies of the district.

Citing examples of farmers waiting in queues in front of shops for purchasing urea or fertilizers, he suggested that sale of urea should be decentralised or a system should be evolved where the officials could avoid crowing and serpentine queue lines in front of shops. They could give tokens to farmers specifying the date and time during which they could come to the shops to purchase fertilizers.

CM cites TTD system

They could follow the system under implementation in Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams where tokens would be issued in advance so that there was no crowding at any given point of time. “Kamareddy should become a role model for others in crisis management,” he said, informing that he would convene a detailed meeting on the situation in the district in a fortnight.

He directed district in-charge Minister Danasari Anasuya Seethakka to convene a meeting with officials, MLAs and MPs of the district, including BJP’s Dharmapuri Arvind to take their suggestions on the relief and rehabilitation measures in the next 10 days. The meeting should chart a road map for the works that should be taken up in a planned manner and specific plan of action should be formulated along with requirement of funds for taking up the works. “The intention behind such a meeting is to take into consideration views of all the taking up works,” he said.

In this context, Mr. Revanth Reddy instructed the officials to work out ways to secure as much assistance as possible from the Central Government for flood relief measures. They should accordingly incorporate minute details of the losses in the reports duly following norms that would be submitted to the Centre for its assistance. “Government will anyway give funds, but steps should be taken to secure as much quantum as possible from the Centre,” he said, assuring that the government on its part would take up the matter with the Centre to secure funds based on the eligibility criterion.

The Chief Minister earlier visited the flood affected areas and inspected damages to roads and other infrastructure. During his interaction with the residents of the G.R. Colony in Kamareddy district, which was among the severely affected areas, he said he had come there to get first hand information about the magnitude of the damages caused by the flood.

He directed the officials to work out measures to mitigate recurrence of the problem on a permanent basis rather than contemplating short term solutions. “Government is committed to alleviate your problems permanently,” he said. Steps would simultaneously be taken to supply books and other material to students. He directed the officials to explore possibility of securing corporate social responsibility funds by holding talks with industrialists for assisting students.

Officials were directed to pay ₹5 lakh ex gratia to families of those who died due to the recent floods and also compensate the losses incurred on account of death of cattle suitably.

(eom)