After three days of incessant rain, there was respite for people of both districts on Thursday as they could come out of their houses to attend to their day-to-day needs.
Though the wet spell would immensely benefit agriculture activity and shore up groundwater levels in the districts, it brought misery to those residing in the colonies that had come up in “unauthorised layouts,” particularly in and around Vizianagaram.
The colonies that had been “developed” at Ayyannapeta, Duppada, Jammu, Kanapaka, K.L. Puram, and Ganjipeta were inundated, forcing the residents to remain indoors despite relief from rain. As a consequence, they could not buy essential commodities such as milk.
‘Haphazard development’
“Haphazard development and failure to protect water bodies have led to such a situation. Municipal authorities should respond and initiate action against the layout developers,” said Bhisetti Babji, State president of Lok Satta Party.
Meanwhile, Vizianagaram Collector M. Hari Jawaharlal and Municipal Commissioner S.S. Varma visited various places to take stock of the situation.
Referring to the holiday declared for all the educational institutions, he said, “Stern action will be initiated against the managements found conducting classes on Thursday,” said Dr. Hari Jawaharlal.
Members of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) reached out to those living in the low-lying areas in Vizianagaram. They drained out water in the lower Tank Bund area, which resembled a pond as water from Pedda Cheruvu flooded the area.
In Srikakulam district, the administration geared itself up to provide shelter for those living in the low-lying areas as the Vamsadhara and the Nagavali were in spate for the last two days.
Extra classes
Collector J. Nivas said that extra classes would be conducted for the students on a regular holiday to make up for the loss of sessions in schools and colleges as a result of the holiday declared on Thursday.
“The situation is under control. The Irrigation and Revenue departments are working in tandem in view of the floods to the major rivers,” he said.
Meanwhile, the officials released 14,874 cusecs from the Vamsadhara as more inflows were expected from the catchment areas of the river. Similarly, 6,800 cusecs of Nagavali water was let out from the Madduvalasa reservoir.
