Khammam.12.09.2024:Families affected by the recent floods in Khammam are unhappy as the compensation announced by the State government has not been distributed yet, and many families were not included in the government’s survey to assess the damage.
The State government had announced compensation of Rs 16,500 for those affected by the rains and Munneru floods. However, many people feel that this amount is too low, considering the extent of the damage. Several organizations are urging the government to increase the compensation, as many families have lost household items worth lakhs of rupees, along with damage to their homes.
Residents like Durgalakshmi from Jublipura and Eshwaramma from Bokkalagadda expressed frustration, saying that their household goods, including rice and utensils, were damaged. They feel that the compensation offered is insufficient to cover their losses.
Leaders from CPI (ML) Mass Line, including state secretariat member K Rangaiah and district secretary Gokinepalli Venkateshwarlu, stated that poor middle-class families have lost property worth Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh due to the floods. Despite this, the government is only offering Rs 16,500. They argue that in Khammam district alone, over 20,000 houses were damaged and the government should provide at least Rs 1 lakh per household. Farmers who lost crops should receive Rs 1 lakh per acre, they added.
The leaders also criticized the government for failing to anticipate the flood’s impact and not evacuating people from flood-prone areas in time, which resulted in greater damage. They pointed out that three ministers from the district—Bhatti Vikramarka, Thummala Nageswara Rao, and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy—failed to supply enough groceries to the affected families. Many families are currently surviving thanks to help from charitable organizations and donors. The delay in distributing compensation is causing additional hardship.
The Telangana Rythu Sangham has also demanded that the government provide Rs 25,000 per acre for food crops damaged by the recent heavy rains and Rs 50,000 per acre for commercial crops. They have also asked for Rs 50,000 per acre to help cover land erosion and the cost of removing sand from fields.
