Vijayawada, Sep 28 : Telugu Desam Party National President and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today demanded the YSRCP government to provide immediate help to the cyclone victims in Andhra Pradesh.

He stressed the need for rushing immediate help to North Andhra following large scale destruction of crops and property caused by the Cyclone Gulab.

Mr Naidu expressed concern that over 3 lakh acres of crops were damaged and normal life was paralysed.

The roads were badly damaged under the impact of the heavy rains. The TDP leaders and cadres should make themselves available to extend all possible help to the affected families.

He said the YSRCP government was not taking prompt action to mitigate the sufferings of the cyclone-hit people and added that negligence was visible despite the people suffering in every natural calamity.

The TDP chief held a teleconference with the party leaders when he underscored the need for the Government to immediately enumerate the crop losses and extend assistance to the affected farmers. Help should be extended to those whose houses were damaged, he added.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was instructing the officials at every step to extend help to the people of their State. But back in AP, the Chief Minister was neglecting the people in the time of calamity and suffering, he alleged.

On its part, the TDP would always be by the side of the people whether it was in ruling or in opposition, he assured.

Mr.Naidu deplored that Mr Reddy was not swinging into action even in times of great suffering for the people.

He had no idea of how vital irrigation would be for a flourishing agriculture and was just watching when the water was flowing wastefully into the sea.

The overflowing of the Somasila project would indicate the inefficiency of the Chief Minister. It was the collective responsibility of everyone to help the affected families.

The TDP leaders should take part in shifting affected people to safer places and in providing food for them, he said.

The former Chief Minister said that major damage was averted in Visakhapatnam now as the underground cable system was developed with Rs.791 Crore in the aftermath of the Hudhud cyclone.

During the TDP rule, compensation for the damaged crops was raised from 50 percent to 100 percent. Whereas, Mr Reddy made many empty promises and now turned indifferent to the farmers’ woes.

The TDP increased investment support from Rs.10,000 to Rs.15,000 per hectare for paddy, sugarcane and cotton when damaged in the natural calamities, the Leader of the Opposition said.(UNI)