Rajahmundry: Most of the MLAs of East Godavari district rapped irrigation officials in the presence of Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Sunday for their alleged negligence in taking up permanent measures in controlling floods during the last one year.

They alleged that whatever the damage occurred and was likely to happen in coming two to three days was because of the failure of irrigation officials.

Dr. Reddy conducted a review meeting after an aerial survey in Vizianagaram district in R and B guesthouse here. During the meeting MLAs Thota Narasimham (Jaggampeta), Dommeti Venkateswarlu (Tallarevu), Chittori Ravindra (Boorugapudi), Bikkina Krishnarjuna Chowdary (Mandapeta) and Pilli Subashchandrabose came down heavily on irrigation officials.

DCC president Thota Narasimham said the release of 12,000 cusecs of flood water from the Yeleru reservoir had caused heavy loss to sugarcane crop and SC colonies in Kirlampudi area and the authorities had failed to repair the breaches that occurred last year. He wanted the officials to release only 10,000 cusecs of floodwater instead of 12,000 cusecs.

Mr. Venkateswarlu said inexperienced workers engaged by irrigation officials at the tidal lock had caused damage to 20,000 acres in his constituency and no irrigation official had attended to the issue for the last 12 months.

Mr. Ravindra said the sudden release of water from Soorumpalem reservoir has led to submergence of Srirangapatnam village in his constituency. He asked to strengthen Munagalla Cheruvu bund immediately.

When Rajahmundry MLA Rowthu Suryaprakasha Rao tried to raise the issue of Nalla channel and separate generators to stop inundation of low-lying areas long the Godavari, the Chief Minister said he would look into it.

In-charge Minister Sabita Indra Reddy, Ministers Gollapalli Surya Rao, Jakkampudi Ramamohana Rao, APCC president K. Keshava Rao, Mayors M.S. Chakravarti and K. Saroja, ZP Chairman Ch. Venu and others participated.

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