Low-lying areas and colonies on Wednesday continued to be submerged under floodwater even after four days of intermittent rains that had lashed the city. In some areas like Urmila Subba Rao Nagar, Ramarajya Nagar, and LBS Nagar the water stagnated on the roads causing hardship to residents.
Water receded from the roads, but the houses were inundated in a few other colonies including Ramarajya Nagar and areas abutting Ajithsingh Nagar flyover. The people fear outbreak of communicable diseases due to the drain water stagnated on the roads.
Row over death
At One Town, heated argument ensued between CPI city secretary Donpudi Sankar and Vijayawada (West) MLA Velampalli Srinivas over death of a woman. Mr. Sankar interacted with family members of Dadi Kanakamma, 36, who allegedly died in floodwater. He demanded that the Government announce an ex graita to family members of the deceased.
Meanwhile, the MLA who arrived there took objection to the slogans raised by CPI workers, and said that the issue should not be politicised. It led to argument between the CPI leader and the MLA.
Later, Mr. Sankar said that Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy had done a namesake aerial survey, which did not benefit the city in any manner. The Sate Government was requested to announce Rs.50 crore as compensation to the city, he said. Meanwhile, addressing a press conference, CPI(M) city secretary Ch. Babu Rao said that the State Government had utterly failed in rescuing people from Budameru flood.
CPI(M) charge
The government had announced that modernisation works and flood prevention measures would be taken up at a cost of Rs.300 crore. The Budameru Diversion Channel, Velagaleru Regulator etc would have to be modernised under the scheme. However, to date, none had become a reality. The people had become shelterless due to apathy of the government, he alleged.
The Government, however, had not spent a single rupee on the modernisation works. It was enough to portray how dedicated the government was, he said, adding, the government should take up Budameru modernisation works immediately.
