Rajahmundry: Former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has demanded that the State Government should change the flood relief norms and double the ex gratia amount from Rs.1.50 lakhs to Rs.3 lakhs.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday after touring flood-hit areas in Konaseema on Wednesday, he said the Government recently issued a G.O. cutting down the compensation for damaged houses from Rs.1,500 to Rs.1,200 and did not revise ex gratia of Rs.1.50 lakhs which was fixed in 1996. He wanted the compensation for house damage to be raised to Rs.3,000 and partial damage to Rs.1,500. He also demanded that the Government immediately distribute 40 kg of rice to each flood-hit family and give Rs.5,000 to weavers to restore their looms.

Input subsidy

Demanding an input subsidy of Rs. 5,000 per hectare for farmers who lost kharif saplings, he asked the Government to write off interest on agriculture loans. He also called for rescheduling of crop loans. Criticising the official machinery for taking the flood situation lightly, Mr. Naidu said that the Government does not know crisis management. Party leaders Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Chikkala Ramachandrarao, Vanga Geetha, Mayor M.S. Chakravarthi and district TDP president Jyothula Nehru also participated.

Special package

Khammam Staff Reporter writes: Mr. Naidu sought a special package for the tribals who could salvage little of their belongings in the floods. Accompanied by a host of party leaders from the district, he visited the river-bank villages of Velerpadu and Kukkunoor and consoled the victims.

He said tribals of Bhadrachalm and Palvancha divisions were the worst affected. The Government must respond to their needs. He wanted the Government to give the families at least 10 litres of kerosene while sending them back to their homes from relief camps. Those rendered homeless should be given pucca houses in safer places under the IAY programme. Farmers must be provided seeds free of cost, he said.

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