The Hindu    25.07.2012

State mulls better relief package for nala encroachers

 Minister for Municipal Administration M. Maheedhar Reddy, on Tuesday said the government would consider providing better rehabilitation package for the families which are to be shifted for remodelling the storm water drains (‘nalas’) network in the twin cities.

He was responding to a request made by GHMC Commissioner M.T. Krishna Babu to treat the rehabilitation package for the city dwellers similar to the one given for irrigation projects at a coordination meeting held with various departments to prepare for the bio-diversity summit and monsoon exigencies.

Mr. Reddy also advised the civic officials to seek funds for the same from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the National Lake Conservation Programme (NLCP). With regard to constructions on the various lake beds, he was told that buildings constructed in the nalas, roads and tanks have not been regularized as per the Supreme Court order,

The Minister also promised to issue official orders for taking up the storm water drain repairs with regard to giving excess payments to ensure the work was completed on time.

He also offered to talk to the public representatives concerned about removing encroachments on different drains and wanted the work to be taken up on a war footing without any further delay.

The Revenue Department would be disbursing Rs.1.5 lakh as ex gratia to the families of the deceased in the recent floods in addition to the one lakh compensation amount announced by the municipal corporation.

He called for intensive fogging, anti-larval and sanitation to be taken up in the 73 inundated areas of recent rain.