KAKINADA: The plight of people affected by the Polavaram project in Devipatnam mandal in East Godavari district is getting worse as the government has not properly rehabilitated the project affected families. The construction of rehabilitation colonies has been left incomplete and the government is also yet to pay the rehabilitation and resettlement packages.
The families are living in a grip of fear as June is approaching fast. It is feared that heavy rains will hit the area in June or July. Last year, the people of Devipatnam mandal faced hardships for three months due to cyclones, floods and heavy rains.
Previously, though the Godavari levels touched 43 to 45 feet, the people there were not affected by the floods. But, after the construction of cofferdam to the Polavaram project, they have been facing inundation problems as the Godavari levels touch 32-35 ft at the Polavaram project.
“Last year, we faced floods and rains three times and suffered a lot. The officials did not properly provide rehabilitation during the rains. Now, as June is approaching fast, we are in a grip of fear of heavy rains and floods to Godavari,’’ said Ch. Subba Rao.
He said that the state government has fixed targets to complete the construction of Polavaram project, but had not fixed the fulfillment of R&R packages to the oustees.
Meanwhile, making matters worse, there is an unofficial power cut at midnight and mosquitoes and other insects are making their lives miserable.
The people suspect that the authorities are resorting to unofficial power cuts and not taking up any sanitation measures, with a view to vacate them without implementing the R&R package. They said that as per the New Land Acquisition Amendment Act and also the High Court judgments in several cases, the government should complete the R&R packages and other rehabilitation measures before evacuating the people to other places.
