KCR apologises to displaced

​Karimnagar: Taking a serious note of the misery inflicted on the residents of several villages after the under-construction weir of the Mid Manair Dam (MMD) got washed away in floodwaters, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Monday decided to call for tenders again cancelling a part of ongoing contract of the dam works.

Admitting that there was a cloudburst in the upstream areas of the dam resulting in heavy flood, the Chief Minister found fault with the contractor for the inordinate delay in carrying the works.

It may be noted here that the under-construction weir of the dam to a length of 130 metres was washed away in the overflowing floodwaters on Sunday.

As a result, floodwaters seeped into Kodurupaka, Neelojipalli and Rudraram villages, forcing the authorities to relocate the residents in nearby villages.

“Undue delay in completion of the dam coupled with poor quality of works led to the washout of earthen bund on the left side of the dam,” KCR reasoned, after he conducted an aerial survey of the MMD and its adjacent villages that marooned under a sheet of water.

He expressed satisfaction with the other contractor who is carrying works on the right side of the dam. MMD plays a key role as part of Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, hence, there is a need for completing the project at the earliest, he said, cautioning the officials to take necessary action.

Referring to his promise of providing double-bedroom houses to the oustees of the dam, KCR apologised to the displaced, stating that he was ignorant of the norms.

“Ignorant of the situation, I promised to provide double-bedroom houses to the displaced for which I seek apologies from them,” KCR said, recalling that district administration had already provided house site to the displaced under R&R package.

However, the government will provide Rs 2 lakh compensation to those oustees who completed 18 years with effect from today.

Hitherto, only those who were completed 18 years of age by 2008 were eligible to get the compensation. It’s learnt that there are 4,231 oustees under MMD who completed 18 years of age.

Referring to the copious rains in the State, the CM said that it would augur well for the people for at least next two years.

“Good news is that all the tanks rejuvenated under Mission Kakatiya have proved that government’s efforts did not go waste. There was a huge improvement in the water holding capacity of the tanks,” he said.

He directed the authorities of Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam to be alert following flood threat along the course of the Godavari river due to heavy rains in the upstream areas of Maharashtra.

While announcing Rs 4 lakh ex gratia for those killed in floods, KCR ordered the district authorities to submit reports of flood loss.

Ministers T Harish Rao, E Rajender, Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma, Special Officer to assess floods B R Meena, District Collector Neetu Prasad, In-charge DIG Ravi Varma and Superintendent of Police D Joel Davis were among others present.