Polavaram: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy directed officials concerned to provide Rs 5,000 to every family affected by floods in Polavaram mandal in addition to the general rescue and rehabilitation measures. As many as 19 villages in the mandal lost all connection with the outside world for the past 10 days.

YS Jagan along with Deputy Chief Minister Pilli Subash Chandra Bose, Irrigation Minister Anil Kumar Yadav and senior officials of the State government conducted an aerial survey over East and West Godavari districts. He was particularly moved by the plight of 26,000 families, most of whom are tribals, affected in Polavaram mandal due to excessive flooding and incessant rains.

After the aerial survey, the Chief Minister held a review meeting with senior officials, local MLAs and Ministers in Rajahmundry to understand the efforts being taken up to help those affected by floods. YS Jagan ordered officials to ensure that essential supplies reach every family at the earliest and there should be no delay in doing so.

He also directed officials to provide seeds to farmers at free cost of cost in areas affected by flooding. Hitherto during the floods, State governments provided seeds at subsidised prices. Providing seeds at free of cost is the first time.

The Chief Minister observed that the magnitude and scale of flooding in Polavaram was increased due to the wrong engineering design of the coffer dam of the Polavaram project built during TDP regime. "Had necessary regulations were followed, we could have prevented a great deal of flooding," he told officials.

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