THE Godavari River created havoc flooding vast areas from July 9 to 20. A Flood of such a scale in July was the first time in almost a decade. The flood severely hit people's normal life. The worst affected were the proposed oustees of the Polavaram project while the ‘lanka’ (island) villages were also damaged. The CPI(M) organised various relief measures in four villages on the Godavari riverbed. Party leaders and cadres were involved in the restoration works and also organised relief camps in affected villages in four districts. Teams led by its state leaders extensively toured the inundated villages of 13 mandals in four districts. They visited the houses of victims and interacted with them and enquired about their difficulties. Polavaram submerged mandals in Alluri Sitarama Raju and Eluru districts were severely affected by the flooding. Villagers of these mandals have been shifted to relief camps by officials. In a few tribal villages, victims went to hillock areas and they themselves erected their own tents and stayed there for more than three weeks. More than 70 island villages were submerged in flood waters in Dr Ambedkar Konaseema and West Godavari districts. Victims had lost their valuable belongings, cattle, and crops, and faced a tough time getting at least a glass of drinking water. “The government of AP has provided only two water packets per day per person in flood-affected areas,” many victims explained their difficulties to the CPI(M) team led by the state secretary, V Srinivasa Rao in Kukkanuru Mandal of Eluru District.

MEDICAL CAMPS ORGANISED

PrajashaktiShatiSamstha and Puchalapalli Ramachandra Reddy PrajaVaidyashala (Nellore) jointly organised medical camps in remote villages to save tribal people from diseases such as viral fever. A 10-member team with two doctors and eight paramedics rendered their services. Youths of various mass organisations volunteered in organising them. MakineniBasavapunnaiahVginankendram (MBVK) team took up relief distribution activity for flood victims in the Eluru district with the support of a few NRI donors. At Kukkunur Mandal, the CPI(M) initiated many relief measures with the help of an NRI based in London. The Party distributed Rs 2,000 worth of groceries each to 800 families. With the support of one NGO, Party leaders distributed bed sheets, and mattresses to 300 families. Solar lights were distributed in a few villages. 

Speaking to the media, V Srinivasa Rao criticised the state and central governments for their failure in providing rehabilitation and relief packages to the Polavaram oustees. It is the responsibility of the government of India to pay the amount due for R&R measures as Polavaram was declared a national project. But nothing was paid. The state government failed to put pressure on the centre to do so. Srinivasa Rao demanded the state government mobilise the public opinion and mount pressure on the centre. He charged that people have been waiting days together in flood-affected areas for getting medical aid. But the government could not respond in time. Relief operations are continued by the CPI(M) and many NGOs and philanthropists in these four districts.