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PNS n bhimavaram
West Godavari District Collector P Prashanthi has said that 1.50 lakh metric tonnes of paddy produce has been purchased from the farmers and 22 relief camps were set up for the cyclone rain victims.
Talking to the media here on Tuesday, the Collector said that so far 1.50 lakh metric tonnes of paddy had been purchased from the farmers and the rest of paddy produce was shifted to the agriculture market yard.
Some of the farmers saved their paddy produce from getting drenched by covering it with plastic sheets, she said.
She stated that as per the IMD forecast the district would receive heavy rains from midnight on Tuesday.
As there is a possibility of stagnating water in the villages due to heavy rains, steps were being taken to drain out the water using MGNREGA workers.
The irrigation officials would visit at the field level and take measures to drain out the stagnated water using the Rs 2 crore funds released by the state government on war footing, the Collector said.
“As many as 24 villages which are located in low-lying areas were identified and 20 relief camps were set up for the villagers. Some victims were already shifted to the relief camps and all needed facilities are being provided to them,” she asserted.
As per the government’s order, Rs 2,500 would be given to each of the families who are shifted to the relief camps when they leave the camps after normalcy returns, the Collector informed.
Collector Prashanthi said that Rapid Action teams were formed comprising the staff of the Panchayat Raj, R&B, and fire control departments to take up operations in the cyclone-affected areas including providing transport and draining out stagnated water from the residential colonies. The pregnant women were already shifted to the government hospital as a precautionary measure, she said.
The Collector made it clear that all steps were taken to avoid loss of life in the cyclone. Steps were also taken to shift the livestock to safer places, she added.
Collector Prashanti said that educational institutions declared holidays on Monday and Tuesday. A decision would be taken after reviewing the situation on Wednesday to declare a holiday to the educational institutions, she announced.
