Amaravati, Oct 31 Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday directed officials to speed up restoration work in areas hit by very severe cyclonic storm Arnab and to take precautions against another possible cyclone.
Officials informed the CM that a depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal was likely to intensify into a cyclone by Sunday and bring moderate to heavy rainfall to South Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema on November 2, 3 and 4.
Naidu directed officials to identify ways to effectively utilise rainwater through efficient water management and prepare appropriate plans, according to a press release.
He instructed them to install diesel generators at all mandal headquarters to ensure that mobile networks remained operational during power outages.
He stressed the need for alternative arrangements to ensure uninterrupted power supply to all 4,500 BSNL towers in the state and towers operated by other telecom service providers.
Naidu asked officials to explore the use of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
Officials informed him that 7,000 personnel were engaged in restoring electricity supply in areas affected by cyclone Arnab.
The CM directed them to expedite the work and ensure that power supply was restored to all households.
He also instructed officials to repair roads damaged by the cyclone on a war footing and rebuild the protective wall near Kakinada.
Naidu called for desilting canals in the Narsapur and Katrenikona regions and improving drainage systems in Konaseema and West Godavari districts to ensure the smooth flow of water to downstream areas.
He directed officials to formulate standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent roads and canals from being inundated during future disasters.
The CM emphasised the need to create widespread awareness among farmers about input subsidies and crop insurance to help protect them against natural disasters.
Reviewing the damage to coconut and banana crops, Naidu directed officials to provide adequate compensation to affected farmers.
He announced compensation of Rs 54,000 per hectare for damage to coconut plantations spread across 1,293 hectares.
In addition, Rs 1,500 per tree would be paid for coconut trees that had been uprooted or whose crowns had been damaged. Officials informed him that around 1.95 lakh coconut trees had suffered damage.
Compensation of Rs 35,000 per hectare was also being provided for banana crops damaged across 15,000 hectares, the press release said.
(PTI News)
