KURNOOL: With flood threat continuing to haunt Kurnool, people in low-lying areas are moving to safer places even while those displaced during floods last year are still languishing in temporary shelters.
None of them have been rehabilitated so far.
Rains are continuing to lash various parts of the district and following red-alert sounded by officials there is an exodus from villages to safer places.
The officials maintain that they are geared up to handle the adverse but none seems to be worried about last year’s flood victims.
While officials are obsessed with chief minister tours, ministers’ reviews and YSR death anniversary celebrations, the public representatives are passing time talking about Rosaiah’s administration, allotment of portfolios, Odarpu Yatra and defections.
No wonder, the victims are leading their life much like nomads under temporary sheds and tents in agricultural fields.
The last year’s floods affected numerous villages including Sunkesula, Nidjur, Bavapuram, Pulathota, Panchalingala, Gundrevula, Sangala, Narayanapuram, Rayachoti, Peddakottaliki, Nadichagi, Marali, Kumbalanur -- which were completely damaged.
In addition to Kurnool and Nandyal towns, over 34 mandals were affected by floods. About 1,83,986 families were identified as flood-affected families.
According to records, 85,164 houses were completely damaged while 77,370 houses were damaged partially. Besides cattle, sheep and poultry, the floods also claimed lives of 45 people.
Government and private institutions suffered loss of several crores, crops in over 1,49,785 hectares were damaged causing a loss of Rs 650 crore.
Aiming to tackle the problem effectively in future, the government conducted a full-fledged survey in flood-affected areas.
It promised to build 17,500 pucca houses in 36 villages in 9 mandals in 1,100 acres but even 30 per cent of the land has not been acquired so far.
Significantly, not even one house has been built as part of rehabilitation for victims.
As housing minister Silpa Mohan Reddy hails from Kurnool district, the victims hoped that their houses will be built within three months as promised by the government. But when it failed to keep its word, they started making rounds to ministers.
A resolution was passed during the DRC meet that rehabilitation works should be completed by July 15 but nothing materialised.
Medak collector Ramsankar Naik and additional joint collector Lakshmikantham, who assured to complete construction of houses at least in 20 villages by the end of July, also failed to fulfil their promise.
madhusudhakar@expressbuzz.com