PNS n bapatla
A Central team visited some of the cyclone-hit areas and saw the damaged crops at the agriculture fields.
The Central team comprising AD Meena of Central Power Distribution Ministry of India and Central Agriculture Joint Director D Vikram Singh visited the Michaung cyclone affected areas in the district and saw the damaged crops and interacted with the farmers.
This is the first Central team to visit Bapatla district to assess the cyclone devastation. The Central team visited Inturu and Govada in Amartaluru mandal. They saw the soaked paddy crop at Govada. The farmers showed the Central team the sprouting of the paddy crop. The farmers expressed their grief over the damage of the standing crop.
The Central team members saw the photos at the photos exhibition regarding the cyclone havoc and severe damages to the crops. Joint Collector CH Sridhar submitted the preliminary assessment of loss due to cyclone to the district to the Central team. The Central team members spoke to the farmers and knew their problems.
Speaking on the occasion, D Vikram Singh said that steps would be taken to extend all help to the affected farmers. The Central team would take the loss of crops to the notice of the Central government, he said, adding that district officials submitted a precise report on the loss due to the cyclone.
The Joint Collector told the Central team that crops in 93,244 hectares were damaged of which paddy crop was damaged in 75,411 hectares. He said that groundnut crop was damaged in 363 hectares, cotton crop in 1129 hectares, black gram crop in 2,034 hectares, sugarcane crop in 50 hectares, green gram crop in 73 hectares, jute in 446 hectares.
The JC said that crop loss was estimated at Rs 10 crore. He told the Central team that 74 relief camps were set up and 1,388 cyclone affected victims were shifted to the camps from the low lying areas.
The cyclone affected 11,000 families in the district, 132 houses were damaged and 65 roads were damaged. As per the preliminary assessment, Rs 10 crore was required for the reconstruction of national highways and Rs 5 crore for the state highways.
The JC said that 40 culverts were damaged in the cyclone. Repalle RDO BS Hela Sharon, agriculture office Sheik Abdul Sattar and horticulture office J Jennamma were among those who accompanied the Central team.
