Telangana govt ready to tackle flood situation: CM KCR
Hyderabad: With incessant downpour in upper basin of Godavari River in the State and neighbouring Maharashtra resulting in heavy inflows into various reservoirs, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Monday directed the Irrigation department to release the flood water downstream from Sri Ram Sagar Project (SRSP) and other reservoirs. Amid heavy rain forecast for next […]
Hyderabad: With incessant downpour in upper basin of Godavari River in the State and neighbouring Maharashtra resulting in heavy inflows into various reservoirs, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Monday directed the Irrigation department to release the flood water downstream from Sri Ram Sagar Project (SRSP) and other reservoirs. Amid heavy rain forecast for next two days, he asked the Ministers, elected representatives, district collectors and the officials of all departments to cancel other programmes and remain accessible for the people at the ground level.
At a high level meeting held at Pragathi Bhavan on heavy rains lashing across the State, the Chief Minister stated that the entire government machinery was fully geared up to meet any eventuality. He inquired about the rain-hit areas and flood-prone localities in the State to assess the situation. He also monitored the flood levels in Godavari River and its tributaries as well as instructed the officials to take necessary precautionary measures by monitoring the flood levels on a real-time basis.
Chandrashekhar Rao advised the Irrigation officials to ensure that the backwaters of the reservoirs do not inundate the surrounding areas due to the rising flood level. As rains are being predicted for about a week, people were requested to cooperate with the authorities concerned and exercise self-restraint as well as take precautions. “People are advised not to venture out unless there is an emergency,” he said. Officials were instructed to keep the rescue teams including National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and helicopters at disposal in the Godavari River catchment areas as well as GHMC and municipal areas in the wake of floods.
The officials informed that all precautionary measures were taken to protect people from rains and floods in the last two days. Despite the heavy downpour, the situation was under control in Nizamabad district, Mulugu and Ramannagudem areas. Due to heavy inflows, Godavari River and its tributaries including Pranahita and Indravati are in full spate. The third warning signal has been issued at Bhadrachalam. Accordingly, the Chief Minister asked Minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar to remain stationed at Bhadrachalam to monitor the situation.
Chandrashekhar Rao asked all the local public representatives, collectors and officials not to leave their respective district headquarters and mandal headquarters in the wake of a red alert in Warangal, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Tungaturthi, Mahabubabad, Jangaon and other areas. He asked Energy Minister G Jagadish Reddy to constantly monitor the flood situation and take appropriate measures in coordination with the District Collectors, the Superintendents of Police and other officials of erstwhile Nalgonda district.
In the wake of the huge flood water in Godavari River, the Chief Minister directed Ministers Vemula Prashanth Reddy and A Indrakaran Reddy to remain alert and take necessary action in erstwhile districts of Adilabad and Nizamabad. He asked Indrakaran Reddy to coordinate with the Irrigation authorities to maintain the water storage levels at Gaddenna Vagu and Swarna Vagu streams at only upto 70 per cent of their capacity and release the remaining flood water downstream.
Ministers Vemula Prashanth Reddy and Gangula Kamalakar, Rajya Sabha member D Damodar Rao, several TRS legislators, Government Chief Advisor Rajiv Sharma, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, DGP M Mahender Reddy and other top officials attended the meeting.
