Jala Deeksha by Kuyuguru Villagers

RAMPACHODAVARAM (ASR DISTRICT): Villagers of Kuyuguru in Chinturu mandal of ASR district staged a Jala Deeksha on Sunday demanding that Kuyuguru village be included in the first contour (41.15) level and immediate payment of R&R package compensation. Hundreds of villagers, including women, stood in the floodwaters that flooded the village and protested strongly against the government. They raised slogans to pay package compensation to their village immediately. They criticized Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for breaking his promise on the R&R package.

The villagers recalled that the Chief Minister came to their village after last year's floods and said that he was shocked to see the collapsed houses and people's flood woes and also he promised to pay compensation within two months.

Villager Sunnam Suman told Hans India that in a meeting held in the same village last year, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy had promised to provide a rehabilitation package within two months. After that, he criticized that the name of this village was also removed from the list of flooded villages. He said that he did not understand why this happened. He said that Kuyuguru is the first village to be flooded in Chinturu mandal. Moreover, the collision of two streams, the Sabari and Godavari floods will affect the village from three sides.

The villagers are angry that the officials said that this village, where 1200 tribals and non-tribals from about 450 families live, is not included in the lidar survey.

Mutyala Srinu, a villager, said that they are living in constant fear for their lives due to the floods and are hiding their lives in the forests and hills. Last year, about five months were spent in fear of the flood. He said that the villagers are facing difficulties even in agricultural work or employment. The government should respond with humanity and recognize their village.