Enumeration of flood losses begins

The enumeration of losses suffered by the families living in the vicinity of river Krishna due to the recent floods began on Wednesday. The Revenue Department constituted as many as 99 teams to assess the damage to houses from Bhavanipuram to Yanamalakuduru. The enumeration is scheduled to be completed on Thursday, while distribution of flood relief is likely to be completed by Monday.

Each enumeration team has writers, a photographer and an NSS volunteer. They visited various places that were affected by the floods. The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation deputed 20 officials to assist the teams constituted by the Revenue Department. The teams are scheduled to visit Krishnalanka, Kodandaramalayam ghat, Ranadive Nagar, Ramalingeswara Nagar, Ranigarithota, Bhavanipuram, Punnami hotel and Bhupeshgutpa Nagar. It is estimated that 15,000 to 16,000 families would have suffered losses.

Ramalingeswara Nagar, Chalasani Nagar, Ranadive Nagar, Krishnalanka and Bhavanipuram were some of the localities that incurred major losses and damage. Preliminary estimates indicate that the houses damaged would be more than 8,000. As many as 7,200 houses would have been damaged partially and 1,000 houses severely. The Government would provide a relief of Rs. 8,000 for houses that were fully damaged, Rs. 7,000 for severely damaged and Rs. 3,000 for those inundated for more than 24 hours. These amounts would be given to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families only. The other relief material like rice and kerosene would be extended to tenants as well. The Government would give 20 kg rice and 5 litres of kerosene to the identified flood victims, officials say.

Officials’ plea

It was reported that at some places house owners did not allow the tenants to enlist themselves for flood relief. Instead, they included the names of relatives and friends during enumeration. The officials, however, said that the people who were facing such problems could contact the sub-collector’s office with all necessary details.

The VMC evacuated more than 40,000 people from Bhavanipuram to Ramalingeswara Nagar. While most of these evacuees went to their friends’ and relatives’ houses, about 12,000 people stayed put in rehabilitation shelters for more than 10 days. They went back to their houses only for enumeration.