ONGOLE : Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has said the drainage system in Krishna Western delta will be modernised at any cost in the next three years to prevent recurrence of submersion problem in Prakasam and Guntur districts.

Dr. Reddy, who came by Simhapuri Express from Hyderabad to Chirala, went along the Chirala-Karamchedu-Swarna road and saw as how the houses, paddy fields and roads were submerged in water for the last five days. Later addressing a meeting at Karamchedu, he said the drainage system, developed by Sir Arthur Cotton in KW delta 150 years ago, outlived its purpose. As it could not discharge the rainwater from the catchment area, the floodwater submerged houses, roads and fields in 3-8 feet of water causing untold hardship to the people.

Project report

So the Government has decided to revamp the drainage system to discharge all water even if the region received 25 per cent more rainfall than recorded now. The Government would get the project report prepared in the next six months and call for tenders and start the work within the next one or one-and-a-half years and complete it in three years. The Government would complete the project even if it cost Rs.5,000 crores.

Dr. Reddy praised the people for facing the floods with fortitude and assured them the Government would do everything to mitigate their suffering. He said the people can stay in the relief camps for as long as necessary and would be given 25 kg rice and five litres of kerosene when leaving for their homes.

The Chief Minister told the affected farmers they would be paid a compensation of Rs. 750 per acre for crop loss. The Government would also supply them seeds on subsidy.

Braving the rain, Dr. Reddy inspected the flood situation. Wearing a raincoat, he visited relief centres in Chirala and went in a bus from Chirala to Karamchedu. He also inspected the breaches caused to Karamchedu-Swarna road that cut off communications between the two places. Several Later addressing a review meeting held at Chirala, he appreciated the relief work taken up by district administration. He warned the officials that the Government would not tolerate any dereliction of duty. Finance Minister, K Rosaiah, Agriculture Minister, Raghuveera Reddy accompanied him. Union Minister of State for Human Resources, D. Purandhareswari received them at her native village Karamchedu.

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