CM to seek Central aid for cyclone loss in A.P.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said he would talk to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about compensating the huge loss inflicted by Cyclone Monthaanddirected the officials to give priority to protecting the submerged crops by draining out the stagnant water on a war-footing with the help of satellite imagery. 

Speaking to officials on the cyclone relief and rehabilitation measures, through a tele-conference on Friday, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said he told the people’s representatives to visit the agricultural fields to assess the damage, and that a proper coordination between them and officials was needed to fully support all those affected by the cyclone, especially the farmers whose kharif crops were destroyed on a large scale. 

He suggested that the advice of scientists be taken for protecting the crops.

Officials told Mr. Naidu that 60% of the agricultural fields in the Bapatla region were still under water and efforts were under way to drain the water out.

The Chief Minister enquired about the flood flow in the Krishna river and said 100 officials who excelled in the implementation of Montha cyclone relief works should be felicitated. 

REPORT TO CENTRE

Meanwhile, the State government submitted a preliminary report on the damage caused by Montha to the Centre with a request to extend financial assistance immediately. As per the report, 17 departments incurred a loss of ₹5,244 crore due to the cyclone and it is likely to go up as detailed estimates are worked out. 

The State government furnished details of the cyclone relief measures taken in the affected districts, including the deputation of special officers to 19 districts. The report said the cyclone impact was more in Prakasam, Nellore, Bapatla and Nandyal districts. 

A total of 1,434 villages, 48 towns and 249 mandals were affected. About 4,794 kilometres of R&B roads and 311 culverts and bridges were damaged. Nearly 863 km of Panchayat Raj roads were damaged in 18 districts. Further, the report mentioned that crops in 1.38 lakh hectares were destroyed and it was estimated that 2.96 lakh metric tons of crops were damaged. 

About 1.74 lakh farmers were affected. As far as the Energy Department is concerned, 2,817 electric poles fell down, and 26,575 distribution transformers were damaged. Power lines measuring 429 km were cut off. The government had set up 1,464 relief camps in which 1,36,907 people took shelter.