Naidu govt. failed flood victims: Devineni Avinash

YSRCP NTR district president Devineni Avinash on Sunday (August 31) lashed out at the Chandrababu Naidu-led coalition government, accusing it of failing to protect Vijayawada residents from the Budameru floods and of betraying the victims even a year after the disaster.

Mr. Avinash alleged that Budameru modernisation works, launched last year, remain stalled, leaving the city vulnerable. “Even a drizzle today keeps residents awake with fear, while the Chief Minister sits on his promises. This is not just incompetence but reckless and heartless governance,” he alleged.

Recalling last year’s calamity, Mr. Avinash said that despite IMD warnings, the government failed to act, leading to floods that claimed over 50 lives, including six in landslides. Nearly 79,000 houses were fully damaged and 14,000 partially destroyed and 60,000 poultry and 222 heads of cattle died. The total damage was pegged at ₹6,800 crore.

He alleged that though ₹602 crore was announced as immediate relief, victims still await for it. “Those staging dharnas for compensation were turned away from the Secretariat and Collectorate, while not a single Minister or MLA consoled bereaved families,” he said.

Mr. Avinash accused the government of turning relief into a publicity exercise. “Mr. Naidu roamed in boats, tractors and JCBs for cameras, distributed curd rice and lemon rice on main roads, while thousands in relief camps lacked even drinking water,” he claimed, adding that even TDP legislators admitted that victims had not received compensation.

He alleged corruption in relief distribution, stating that donor contributions were siphoned off through fake bills for candles, water bottles and food packets. He dismissed Minister for Irrigation Nimmala Ramanaidu’s “Operation Budameru” as a farce, pointing out that works remain incomplete.

“Over the past two months of rains, Vijayawada residents have been living in fear every night. The government has failed to provide even the minimum assurance of safety,” Avinash remarked.

Contrasting this with the previous administration, he said: “If not for the retaining wall built under Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s leadership, Krishna Lanka would have been wiped out by flood. Thousands of residents still remember Mr. Jagan with gratitude because his vision saved lives.”

Mr. Avinash demanded immediate completion of Budameru modernisation works, full compensation for affected families, livelihood support and transparent accounting of relief expenditure. “The people of Vijayawada don’t need photo-ops or paper statements—they need safety and justice,” he added.