Clamour grows for safe relocation of those displaced by monsoon floods

Vijayawada: With floodwaters receding, the call to relocate displaced families to safe areas has grown louder. Opposition parties have joined in on the demand, insisting that houses be provided to the flood-affected in Ranigari Thota, Taraka Rama Nagar, Bhupesh Gupta Nagar and other low-lying areas in the city.

Over the last two years, heavy rainfall in the catchment area of irrigation projects during the monsoon has led to floods in the Prakasam Barrage. In 2019, the crest gates of the barrage remained open for 94 days, while this year the gates have been open for the past 20 days.

Several areas in the city continue to get inundated once floodwater levels cross 2.2 lakh cusecs. Nor has the retaining wall along the Krishna river been able to control inundation of low-lying areas.

Residents of Bhupesh Gupta Nagar, Taraka Rama Nagar who have been sheltering now for 20 days at flood relief camps arranged by the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) expressed their unhappiness with the situation. Officials held a survey last year, they said, and promised them new houses in safe areas. “We lost everything in floods and are taking shelter in VMC stadium. We are unable to go for work. Floods are a major problem in the monsoon season but the government should relocate our colony and provide new houses to us,” said K John Babu, a resident of Taraka Rama Nagar.

Opposition parties claimed that the delay in the construction of the retaining wall is to blame for the periodic inundation of residential colonies downstream of the Krishna river bund. “Conducting namesake surveys will not help

flood

victims. Government should provide them houses in safe areas. Retaining wall construction will take many more years,” said Jana Sena spokesperson Pothina Venkata Mahesh.

Meanwhile, VMC authorities said they have identified beneficiaries for affordable housing in flood-affected areas and new houses will soon be allocated.