CM Naidu reviews Cyclone Montha damage, flags crop losses in coastal districts

Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that with prior planning, preparedness and collective effort of officials and people's representatives, the state has successfully faced the challenge of Cyclone Montha and minimised the damage.

Priority was given to ensure no loss of life and property. However, the cyclone resulted in damage to crops in the Konaseema region and agricultural lands were submerged in Nellore, Prakasam and Bapatla districts.

CM Naidu surveys flood-hit regions

The Chief Minister, who monitored the cyclone effect till last midnight, conducted an aerial survey on Wednesday in Nellore, Prakasam, Palnadu and Konaseema regions.

Setting aside the protocol security, the Chief Minister visited the rehabilitation centre in Allavaram mandal in Konaseema district and interacted with people. He distributed 25 kg of rice and essential commodities to the people and interacted with them to know their problems directly.

Later, the Chief Minister inspected the waterlogged paddy crop at Aragatlapalem and Bandamurulanka villages and enquired the farmers about the crop damage. When the farmers requested clearance of weeds for the effective functioning of the drainage system, the Chief Minister directed the officials to immediately clear the weeds.

CM reviews the extent of damage

Immediately after completing the aerial survey, the Chief Minister reached the RTGS centre at the Secretariat here and conducted a review with officials on cyclone damage.

He enquired with the officials about damage and loss caused by the cyclone. He directed the officials to immediately restore the power supply and clear of roads by removing uprooted trees. He said priority should be given to sanitation and clearance of clogged drains. He said the distribution of rice and essential commodities to people at rehabilitation centres should be sped up.

Cyclone weakening, officials tell CM

The officials informed the Chief Minister that at present, there was no rainfall in several districts due to the weakening of the cyclone.

They said 1,209 rehabilitation centres were set up, providing rehabilitation to 1.6 lakh people. They said that the cyclone effect fell on 18 lakh people of 1,434 villages and 48 municipalities. Crops in 87,000 hectares in 304 mandals were damaged. Besides paddy, cotton, maize and black gram crops in 59,000 hectares are waterlogged, causing loss to 78,796 farmers.

Power supply was interrupted due to tripping of feeders and officials are restoring power supply on a war footing. They said roads at a stretch of 380 km and 14 bridges were damaged, resulting in a loss of Rs 1,424 crore.

Regarding rural water supply, Rs 36 crore has been pegged as a loss as per primary estimates. The officials said that 3,175 pregnant women were shifted to safe places and 2,130 medical camps were conducted. Efforts are on to remove the uprooted trees on several roads to provide free flow of traffic.