The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Paddy nurseries in 20,000 hectares inundated due to heavy rain

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 10, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Paddy nurseries in 20,000 hectares inundated due to heavy rain

Staff Reporter

Kakinada: Paddy nurseries in some 20,000 hectares have been inundated by heavy rains that have been lashing the district since the last two days. Though many placed are still experiencing wet spell, the Godavari has received lesser inflows. There is also a huge loss to standing crops, which is being estimated by officials of the Agriculture Department.

Some respite

The water level at Dowleswaram barrage has come down to 8.2 feet and the flood discharge to 6.5 lakh cusecs, giving some respite to the officials and people who are living on the banks of the river.

One person was seriously injured when the compound wall of the Forest Department office at Rajahmundry collapsed due to the heavy downpour.

The district recorded an average rainfall of 38.12 mm while Amalapuram and Ambajipeta mandals received the highest rainfalls of 85.8 mm and 85.6 mm.

The total rainfall in district was 2,228.9 mm (228.69 cm). Alamuru, Allavaram, Atreyapuram, I. Polavaram, Kadiam, Katrenikona, Mamidikuduru, Mandapeta, Maredumilli, Mummidivaram, P. Gannavaram and Uppalaguptam mandals received isolated heavy rain.

Social Welfare Minister P. Subhas Chandra Bose toured the flood-affected villages in Karapa and Kajuluru mandals along with ZP chairman Ch. Venugopala Krishna and Collector Gopalakrishna Dwivedi. The Minister said the modernisation of the Godavari delta’s drainage system could not be taken up this year as no contractor came forward to submit tenders.

Breaches

Mr. Dwivedi said that paddy crop in 4,000 acres was submerged under flood water in Karapa mandal and there were breaches to drains at many places. Compensation would be paid to the affected persons. The overall situation in the district was being studied while rain continued to disrupt normal life.

Control rooms were set up at Kakinada and Rajahmundry to monitor the rescue and relief operations in the flood-affected places.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh