CM puts Collectors on alert over floods

Hyderabad, Aug 31 (INN): Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Tuesday alerted the Collectors of East and West Godavari districts to monitor the floods situation and take all precautionary measures to prevent any loss of life or property and damage to crops.

He also asked them to take care of tank and road breaches and take necessary steps. Mr Rosaiah who reviewed the latest situation in the districts following heavy rains for the last few days with top officials over phone directed them to be in constant touch with the district Collectors and Commissioner, Disaster Management regarding the measures to be initiated.

Season's Total Rainfall was recorded as on Tuesday was 621.1 mm as against the normal rainfall of 481.5 mm with a deviation of (+) 29 per cent in the State.

Rayalaseema region recorded 421.5 mm as against the normal rainfall of 281.8 mm with a deviation of (+) 50 per cent. Coastal Andhra region recorded 657.7 mm as against the normal rainfall of 454.4 mm, with a deviation of (+) 45 per cent.

Telangana region recorded 687.8 mm as against the normal rainfall of 585.8 mm with a deviation of (+) 17 per cent. District-wise rainfall is as follows: Prakasam recorded 87.3 per cent excess rainfall, Nellore (82.5 per cent), Guntur (74.0 per cent), Hyderabad (55.5 per cent), Kurnool (53.6 per cent), Anantapur (52.1 per cent), Kadapa (50.5 per cent), Mahabubnagar (47.1 per cent),Chhittoor (46.2 per cent), Krishna (45.2 per cent), Ranga Reddy (44.1 per cent), East Godavari (42.7 per cent), Vizianagaram (36.2 per cent), Visakhapatnam (31.7 per cent), Khammam (29.1 per cent), West Godavari (29.0 per cent), Srikakulam (25.6 per cent) and Warangal (25.2 per cent). Karimagar (9.5 per cent), Adilabad (7.5 per cent), Nalgonda (7.3 per cent) and Medak (6.4 per cent).

While 768 mandals received excess rainfall, 315 mandals received normal or more than normal rainfall as on Tuesday. In Bejjur Mandal, 125.2 mm rainfall was recorded.

Heavy rains lashed West Godavari District on Monday.

The Chief Minister was informed by the officials that in view of the floods occurred to Tammileru, Yerra Kalava, Kovvada Kalava, Jalleru rivers, there was an unexpected inflow of around 40,000 cusecs to Tammileru river by midnight of 30-8-2010 and the maximum capacity of the river is only about 30,000 cusecs.

In view of the above, 4,839 people were evacuated from the Mandals of Eluru (4,600 persons), Pedavegi (45 persons), Jangareddigudem (52 persons) and Tallapudi (142 persons), organised relief camps for the evacuated persons.

One helicopter was requisitioned and kept ready for rescue operations but by Tuesday morning, the water in Tammileru river was receded and there was no further evacuation and the district administration is closely monitoring the situation.

Officials explained to the Chief Minister that Irrigation officials are closely monitoring the flood situation and sufficient stock of sand bags were kept ready for strengthening the bunds wherever it is weak and also to close the breaches occurred.

Revenue officials were instructed to evacuate the people from the low lying areas and organize relief camps. Necessary arrangements were made for providing food and drinking water for evacuated people. Medical camps are being organized at relief camps.

Generators are made available at relief camps for lighting. Two mechanized boats are kept ready for evacuation of the people from low lying areas. Police department is requested to co-operate with Revenue officials in evacuating the people from low lying areas to safer places and to keep police men at all causeways and vulnerable points to see that nobody will cross the river.

Fire Services Department was already requested to keep ready the men along with the material of ropes etc. to save the people in rescue operations.

Damages so far reported include 2385 houses inundated, 51 houses damaged and 2,000 hectares of crops damaged.

East Godavari District: Two Mandals were severally affected and two people died and 683 houses marooned. Officers of Revenue, Police, Irrigation and Fire departments were alerted. Medical teams are being sent to the spot. All precautionary measures are being taken to handle the situation.

Guntur District: One person washed away in Kuppaganji Vagu on 30-8-2010 while washing his cycle at a culvert. An extent of 6,806 hactares of crops (Paddy – 3286 ha and Cotton - 3520 ha) were damaged due to inundation during the recent rains from 25-8-2010 to 30-8-2010 in 9 mandals of the district.

Visakhapatnam: One person died due to thunderbolt on 28.8.2010 at Donkada Village of Nakkapalli Mandal. Due to heavy rains from 26th to 28th this month nearly 48 houses of Harijana Jaggayyapeta and Tungalam village of Gajuwaka Mandal were inundated and all the families were shifted to safer places. One orphanage home situated at Thungalam village was also inundated and all the 124 orphans staying in the home were shifted to one BHPV Kalyana Mandapam and food and water provided to them.

The situation is under close watch and there are no casualty or damages to the public properties in the district. Due to heavy rains in the last few days, agricultural operations and transplantation of paddy in Godavari delta are in slow progress. Sowing of rain-fed crops are almost completed. The sowings under Black soils may continue till September.

Early sown rain-fed crops are at vegetative to flowering Stage. Maize is at tasseling stage. Early sown Groundnut, Seasamum and bajra are at vegetative to flowering stage. Late sown Groundnut is at flowering to pod formation stage. Sugarcane is at grand growth and 2nd wrapping stage. Harvesting of early Kharif paddy is under progress in Nellore and Chittoor districts. Cotton plants are dying due to excess moisture was observed in some pockets in Khammam district.

The intercultural operations and application of fertilizers are in progress under rain-fed crops where rains are not received. Anantapur district is poised to reap a bumper crop of groundnut due to good monsoon this year. Rainfall received during last fortnight softened the soil so that already sown or transplanted crops are in good condition and the early sown crops are at early vegetative to flowering stage.

The recent rains are very much congenial to the standing crops. Overall the crops growth is satisfactory. The pests and diseases on crops have also been reported as low level, the officials said.