Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday urged officials to take proactive steps to limit damage during heavy rains and floods in future with the help of lessons learned while tackling the present calamitous situation in the State.

KCR exhorts babus tackling rains and floods

Previous governments neglected the projects. Land acquisition works for the projects should be speeded up as better compensation is being offered through GO 123. The State government is spending Rs 25,000 crore for the projects every year and will irrigate one crore acres

Reviewing the situation arising out of heavy rains and floods at Karimnagar collectorate, KCR observed that due to heavy flows from the Upper Manair, the Mid Manair Dam had suffered damage. The damage was attributable partly to the decades-long delay in the execution of works and lack of quality in the works already executed under the Mid Manair left bank canal project. The Chief Minister directed the officials to cancel the tenders pertaining to the works of MMD and to call for fresh bids.

The Chief Minister was earlier briefed by officials that the MMD suffered breaches to an extent of 130 meters and that there would be no further damage due to floods. The Chief Minister told the officials to send back the evacuees since there would be no further damage. He wanted stipulations to be framed so that the working agencies could complete the remaining works in time. Officials should see to it that contractors did not quote more than the standard -- five per cent less than the bid price, and whenever possible bank guarantee should be obtained.

KCR said that works should be executed at a faster clip since the government had been allocating huge amount of funds for irrigation projects. Land acquisition should be expedited since compensation was being provided under GO No 123. Observing that the Mid Manair Dam was at the heart of the Kaleswaram project, he said that its works should be completed at the earliest with an eye on quality. “Previous governments neglected the projects.

Land acquisition works for the projects should be speeded up as better compensation is being offered through GO 123. The State government is spending Rs 25,000 crore for the projects every year and will irrigate one crore acres, he added. He suggested that people of Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam districts should be alert as the Godavari was in spate. Greater alert was needed at Ramannagudem of Warangal district and at Bhadrachalam of Khammam district.

Outflows should be raised as per the inflows and water of Lower Manair should be taken up to Khammam and Nalgonda districts. The flood situation should be assessed regularly, with State officials keeping in touch with their counterparts in Maharashtra and working in perfect coordination. The Chief Minister asked the irrigation officials to act in accordance with the flood from Karnataka at Singur Dam. The Chief Minister said that people were aware of the situation in the State.

In the past too tanks used to sustain breaches even after a small rain. Mission Kakatiya had been receiving public appreciation, he noted. Priority should be given to save human and cattle lives and officials must be ready to face any situation in the wake of rains and floods. He told the officials to prepare reports on the losses and to provide compensation to the kin of the dead and to those who had lost their houses.

Housing facility will be provided to those who suffered loss in the floods, he added. Expressing satisfaction over the copious rainfall, Chief Minister said that Mission Kakatiya program had come in handy for restoring lakes, water bodies and ponds. He exhorted farmers to make use of the available water to achieve good yield in the present as well coming seasons.