AP CM Naidu urges Centre to release immediate aid for Cyclone Murasu-hit Andhra Pradesh

Amaravati, Nov 15 (TNT) : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday urged the Centre to release immediate financial assistance for cyclone relief and rehabilitation, stating that the state had suffered damage estimated at Rs 2,484.43 crore due to Cyclone Murasu.

Participating in a virtual meeting with a seven-member Central team headed by Chittaranjan Das, Joint Secretary in the Union Home Ministry, Naidu stressed the need for stronger and more resilient infrastructure to minimise damage from recurring cyclones along the state’s coastline.

He requested the Central team to submit its assessment report within 10 days to facilitate the release of financial assistance.

The Central team, which completed field inspections in Bapatla, Palnadu, Eluru and East Godavari districts, visited nearly 60 locations to assess damage to agricultural fields, roads, irrigation facilities, houses and other infrastructure.

Naidu said the state government had anticipated the cyclone’s movement and initiated precautionary measures in advance. Road connectivity, electricity supply and mobile network services were restored within 24 hours through emergency operations.

He said arrangements were being made to ensure early insurance compensation to affected farmers and additional ration supplies had been distributed in cyclone-hit areas.

The Chief Minister pointed out that coastal Andhra Pradesh was frequently exposed to cyclones and sought Central assistance to strengthen infrastructure to withstand such natural calamities.

The Central team observed that rural roads had suffered extensive damage due to flash floods and several electricity poles had been damaged. It noted that advance desilting of canals and streams had helped reduce the extent of damage.

The team suggested providing ration supplies three times within 30 days, uniforms to pre-school children in government schools and special assistance to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

It also recommended enhanced compensation for farmers cultivating organic and natural crops and observed that high insurance premiums for commercial crops such as cotton had discouraged several farmers from opting for crop insurance.

According to the state government’s assessment, agricultural crops over 1,43,617 hectares suffered damage estimated at Rs 874.97 crore, affecting 1,86,063 farmers. Horticultural crops across 6,756 hectares suffered losses of Rs 337.10 crore, affecting 12,605 farmers.

The assessment indicated that paddy crop losses were as high as 80 per cent in East Godavari and 90 per cent in Eluru district. Mango and papaya plantations were among the worst-affected horticultural crops.

Road infrastructure suffered damage estimated at Rs 888.84 crore, with 1,385 km of roads, 36 breaches and 65 culverts affected. The cyclone also affected 369 irrigation sources, with breaches reported at 509 locations.

In the power sector, 10,192 11-KV electricity poles, 6,442 low-tension poles and 1,448 distribution transformers were damaged. Emergency response and relief expenditure was estimated at Rs 37 crore.

A total of 3,859 houses, including 645 huts, were damaged. Losses were also reported in fisheries, health, municipal administration, rural development, drinking water, school education, animal husbandry and handloom sectors.

The Central team also inspected damaged drainage systems, paddy fields, fishing boats and duck-rearing units and interacted with farmers at Surappagudem in Bhimadole mandal.

It observed that East Godavari district suffered greater damage from Cyclone Murasu than Cyclone Arnav due to heavy rainfall.