Not even a cattle died due to rains: KCR

Hyderabad, Sept 24 (INN): Stating that the entire administration was an alert, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has claimed that there was no significant damage due to recent heavy rains in Hyderabad. He said there was no loss of lives and not even a cattle died in rain-related incidents.

Addressing a press conference after conducting a high-level review meeting on Saturday, the Chief Minister said that Hyderabad received 448% more rainfall in the month of September. As against 84 mm rainfall recorded in 1908, the city received 460 mm rainfall this month. He said Chennai city was completely submerged after continuous rains for 21 days. However, he said that the situation in Hyderabad was completely different.

The Chief Minister said that the GHMC and Municipal Administration Department took all precautions which minimised damages and ensure zero loss of lives. He said that the GHMC had demolished several dilapidated buildings which avoided loss of lives.

Blaming the previous Congress regimes for illegal constructions, the Chief Minister said 12 municipalities were merged into GHMC without making arrangements for drainage and drinking water facilities. Consequently, those areas are now facing the nature's wrath. He said the TRS Government has laid new drainage lines at a cost of Rs. 2,000 crore. He said that the government would demolish 28,000 illegally constructed houses across the city after the rain subsides. He said special squads would be formed in all circles to carry out demolition of illegal buildings. He said a cash prize of Rs. 10,000 would be given to those giving information about illegal buildings.

KCR ridiculed the criticism by opposition parties and said it would take at least 4-5 years for a government to turn Hyderabad into a global city. He said all illegal constructions need to be stopped in order to prevent stagnation of rain water.

The Chief Minister also claimed that only 10% of roads got damaged due to recent rains. He said that the damaged roads would be repaired soon at a cost of Rs. 300-400 crore. Further, he said that the government would need about Rs. 12,000-15,000 crore to strengthen the drainage system and the same would be done by procuring loans.

KCR said that except Nagarjuna Sagar, all other reservoirs were filled to the brim. Therefore, Telangana would not face drought situation for the next two years.

The Chief Minister said that the administration would remain on alert for the next one week in view of forecast of more rainfall. He said instructions have been issued to establish a control room in all districts. He said that the government was assessing the damages caused due to heavy rains and a report would be sent to the centre seeking financial assistance. He said health department too has been asked to be vigilant to prevent spread of epidemics and water borne diseases.

KCR said that the government has kept Army, Police and Helicopters on stand-by to deal with emergency situations.