AP govt should come to rescue of cyclone-hit fishermen: YS Jagan

Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh Assembly, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy today urged the state government to provide immediate financial aid to the cyclone-affected fishermen.

"The state government has miserably failed in addressing the problems of the fishermen. Even as 400 boats of the fishermen were badly damaged in the cyclone, 600 boats have gone missing," Reddy, who visited the harbour area ravaged by the cyclone, told reporters here.

The government should bear the cost of repairing the damaged boats and should pay an ex-gratia of Rs 20,000 per family till the boats are set for sail and their economic activity is restored, he said.

According to YSR Congress Party chief, about 22 families are directly or indirectly dependent on each fishing boat. "Therefore, the Government should give Rs 50,000 to each affected family as compensation amount at this time of crisis, besides the ex-gratia," he demanded.

Criticising the TDP government, YS Jagan said, "It is very sad that the state government is yet to begin the work to assess the loss and damage caused by 'Hudhud'. The magnitude of the loss and tragedy is very high. Strong gales have blown away roof tops, but no enumeration was done as to how many houses were damaged and how much compensation is to be paid to the victims," he alleged.

The officials should take up relief and rehabilitation work immediately and should either repair the damaged houses or build new ones, he said.