CPI(M) writes to Andhra Pradesh Governor, flags failures of governments in helping Polavaram project affected families
The Hindu
CPI(M) State committee member Y. Venkateswara Rao, MLC Lakshman Rao and others said the State and Central governments have not been taking initiative to solve the problems of the displaced people.
The CPI(M) on Monday wrote to Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, requesting him to direct the State government to look into the problems faced by the Polavaram project displaced families (PDFs). The party also wanted the Governor to ask the Union government to take up redressal measures.
CPI(M) State committee member Y. Venkateswara Rao, MLC Lakshman Rao and others said the State and Central governments have not been taking initiative to solve the problems of the displaced people. Four mandals of ASR district and two of Eluru district were in flood waters for about a hundred days during last year’s floods in the River Godavari. Thousands of families suffered. The government did not extend them any help, except for the ₹2,000 per family. Essential commodities were not supplied and no compensation was given. Floods may occur this July and August as well. “We request that precautionary measures be taken now,” they said.
The CPIM leaders said the displaced people should not be evacuated from the villages till the relief and rehabilitation measures are completely implemented. The development and welfare measures should be continued as usual in the submergence villages. Re-survey should be taken up on the basis of floods that occurred in 1986 and 2022. The Rehabilitation should be completed in all villages at a time and not in phases, they said.
The CPI(M) leaders said that mandal has to be taken as a unit and all the affected people be provided with relief and rehabilitation. A sum of ₹20 lakh should be paid per acre for the land that the government takes from farmers in the mandals to be submerged. Every displaced family should be given ₹10.50 lakh irrespective of contour statistics, as per the assurance of the Chief Minister in the Assembly, they added.
Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss.
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.