Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Seeks Central Aid for Cyclone-Resilient Infrastructure
Andhra Pradeshs CM urges central government support for stronger infrastructure to reduce cyclone damage in coastal regions.
Amaravati, November 15 (Daily Kiran) : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu emphasized the need for central government assistance in developing resilient infrastructure to mitigate cyclone damage in the coastal regions. Speaking on Sunday, he noted that the area frequently experiences cyclones, making robust infrastructure essential for long-term safety.
Naidu’s comments came during discussions with a seven-member central team assessing the damage caused by Cyclone Murasu. Following their ground inspections, the team held a virtual meeting with the Chief Minister.
Led by Joint Secretary Chittaranjan Das from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the central team divided into two groups to visit districts including Bapatla, Palnadu, Eluru, and East Godavari. They inspected around 60 locations, assessing damage to agricultural land, canals, roads, and homes.
Naidu informed the central team that the state has suffered extensive damage due to the effects of El Niño and the occurrence of two cyclones in quick succession. He stated that the government had predicted the cyclone’s path and had already implemented precautionary measures.
He further mentioned that relief and restoration efforts were underway at a rapid pace. Road connectivity, power supply, and mobile network services were restored within 24 hours, and normalcy has returned to the affected areas. Steps are being taken to ensure prompt insurance assistance for farmers who suffered crop losses, and additional rations are being distributed in cyclone-hit regions.
Naidu urged the central team to submit their report on the cyclone damage within ten days, considering all these factors. He also appealed for immediate financial assistance from the central government for cyclone relief and rehabilitation.
According to the report submitted to the central team, the state government estimates the total damage from Cyclone Murasu at ₹2,484.43 crore. This includes damage to 1,385 kilometers of roads, with 36 locations experiencing cracks and 65 culverts damaged, resulting in a loss of ₹888.84 crore. Additionally, crops over 143,617 hectares suffered losses amounting to ₹874.97 crore, affecting 186,063 farmers, while horticultural crops over 6,756 hectares incurred losses of ₹337.10 crore, impacting 12,605 farmers.
