Hyderabad: A five-member inter-ministerial team sent by the Centre to assess the damage caused by the floods in Telangana the state government officials on Thursday.
The team, led by Joint Secretary Praveen Vashista, met Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar at the state Secretariat and discussed the flood situation and relief measures in the state.
Somesh Kumar informed the Central team that the state government has taken all measures to minimise loss of lives and property arising out of the recent floods.
He gave a powerpoint presentation and briefed about the extent of damage caused due to the floods in the state. A photo exhibition was arranged to depict the damages caused by the floods.
Officials of Irrigation, Municipal Administration, Roads & Buildings, Agriculture, Energy, and Panchayat Raj Departments as well as from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the Water Board interacted with the Central team and gave an overview of the loss incurred in the state.
Officials informed that there was excess rainfall during the last 10 days which has resulted in flooding. The state government has already released Rs 550 crore for immediate flood relief.
Though there were rains in the entire state, excessive damage was in and around Hyderabad and the neighbouring districts adjoining the city. Breaches to three major tanks coupled with flooding in Musi river resulted in low-level areas being inundated.
The state government officials said damage to public infrastructure was enormous and the state government had already made a preliminary assessment of the damage.
While the loss to crops is estimated at Rs 8,633 crore, loss to roads is estimated to be around Rs 222 crore. The loss to GHMC is estimated to be at Rs 567 crore.
Apart from the Rs 550 crore for immediate flood relief, the state government told the Centre that food packets were supplied to more than two lakh people. One kilogram of bleaching powder and three lakh chlorine tablets were supplied to the affected people.
The Central team arrived in Hyderabad on Thursday to assess the damage caused by floods.
It will visit the flood-affected areas to assess the extent of damage to properties and crops during recent heavy rains and floods.
The other members of the team are R.B. Kaul, Consultant, Ministry of Finance; K. Manoharan, Director, Department of Agriculture; S.K. Kushwaha, Senior Engineer, Transport and Highways; and M. Raghuram, Senior Manager, Ministry of Water Resources.
The Centre sent the team a week after Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said that due to heavy rains and flash floods, the state suffered losses to the tune of Rs 5,000 crore.
He wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to release Rs 1,350 crore immediately for the relief and rehabilitation works.
Heavy rains and floods since October 13 have wreaked havoc in various parts of the state, especially Hyderabad, claiming at least 70 lives.
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