Rain-hit victims’ grievances upset TDP president

Registering his protest against the lukewarm response from the district administration towards the victims of the incessant rains, Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu sat on a dharna for over three hours at Buchayyapeta village here on Tuesday.

Mr. Naidu reached the village from Annavaram about 4 p.m. and interacted with the victims of the heavy rains. They complained that none of the government officials turned up at their village and that they were facing acute drinking water shortage for the past one week. Irked by the development, Mr. Naidu sat on a dharna in the village demanding that the district administration must swing into action immediately and provide basic amenities to all the rain-hit victims. He sought the presence of the Collector and other officials in the village and continued his agitation. Since the Collector was not present at the district headquarters, there was no response initially from the officials to the dharna.

The TDP activists made arrangements to stage ‘vanta-varpu’ and for sleep at night and on the roads. As the electronic media flashed the news, Revenue Divisional Officer of Peddapuram, Sankara Prasad, visited the village and held discussions with Mr. Naidu. After taking an assurance from the official that the problems of the victims would be addressed within 24 hours, Mr. Naidu announced the withdrawal of his agitation and resumed his visit to the rain-affected areas.

Earlier, during his interaction with the media, Mr. Naidu demanded that the assessment of loss incurred by the farmers be completed and the payment of ex-gratia be made at the earliest.