Release Rs. 1,000 crore to AP for flood relief: Vijayasai Reddy appeals to Centre

Visakhapatnam: YSRCP Rajya Sabha MP V. Vijayasai Reddy has appealed to the Union government to support Andhra Pradesh by releasing Rs. 1,000 crore under emergency relief in view of the heavy rainfall and floods that hit the state recently. Mr. Reddy on Tuesday raised the issue during the Rajya Sabha Zero Hour and appealed to the Centre for immediate relief.

He said that heavy rains triggered by a depression over the Bay of Bengal on 18 November led to flash floods and wreaked havoc in Rayalaseema and south coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh. The unprecedented rains and floods caused breaches to reservoirs thereby inundating villages and towns.

Roads, bridges, railway tracks were extensively damaged and electricity utilities were uprooted. Houses were either washed away or inundated by floodwaters rendering thousands of people homeless. So far, 44 people have died, 16 are reported missing, and about 70,000 persons have been displaced from their homes, he added

Farmers have also suffered heavy losses since the crops that were ready for harvesting were destroyed. It is estimated that about 1.85 lakh hectares of agriculture and horticulture crops have been damaged. In totality, according to preliminary estimates, the loss caused to the crops and infrastructure has been put at Rs. 6,054 crores, Mr. Reddy added.

Despite the sincere efforts of the Andhra Pradesh government in conducting rescue operations and undertaking relief measures in the affected areas, the current situation on the ground needs Centre's assistance. In this hour of crisis, it is imperative that the Union government step in to provide much-needed assistance to see that the state rises up again, he added.