Chief Secretary of the State, KS Jawahar Reddy, has issued a directive to District Collectors to take immediate, concerted action to restore normalcy in the aftermath of Cyclone Michaong. In a virtual review meeting held on Thursday from the Secretariat, he said there is a need for a rapid response to address issues such as power supply, road restoration, provision of drinking water, and the assessment of crop damage.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary instructed the agriculture and horticulture departments, along with the District Collectors, to initiate the enumeration process for assessing crop damage. With the Chief Minister’s approval, a formal request will be sent to the Central government, urging them to dispatch a Central team to assess the storm’s impact on the state.
Meanwhile, he urged Collectors to expedite cyclone relief and rehabilitation efforts, emphasising the importance of removing stagnant water from fields, particularly in paddy crop areas.
Jawahar Reddy revealed that the preliminary estimate indicates damage to 145,795 hectares of paddy and 31,498 hectares of various horticultural crops.
Once the enumeration process concludes, farmers whose crops have suffered damage will receive input subsidies and a 100% insurance facility will be applied. The Chief Secretary also announced plans to seek relaxation of rules related to the collection of stained and discolored grains from the central government.
G Sai Prasad, Special Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department, reported that 9,321 families affected by the cyclone have been assisted in relief camps, receiving Rs 2,500 per family. Additionally, single individuals in relief camps were given Rs 1,000 each, amounting to a total distribution of Rs 2.5 crore. The distribution of essential items, including rice, dal, palm oil, onions, and potatoes, is ongoing for the affected families.
Special Principal Secretary of Agriculture, Gopalakrishna Dwivedi, highlighted that 92,577 hectares of paddy are waterlogged, and 53,218 hectares of standing paddy have fallen due to the cyclone. The enumeration process for crop damage estimation is set to commence on December 11, covering horticultural crops as well. Dwivedi assured that steps would be taken to provide 100% insurance coverage for all damaged crops.
KVijayanand, Special Chief Secretary of the Energy Department, reported on the impact on the power supply, noting the restoration work’s swift progress. He stated that power supply has been disrupted in 3,292 villages, with 3,111 villages already having electricity restored, and efforts ongoing for the remaining 181 villages.
B Rajasekhar, Special Chief Secretary of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, informed that 93.8 km of 55 highway roads have been damaged, with urgent steps being taken for their restoration. Pradyumna, R&B Secretary, added that 2,816 km of R&B roads are undergoing repairs on a war footing.
CDMA Koteswara Rao highlighted road damage in 14 different local bodies, amounting to 56.7 kilometers, along with 2,770 damaged street lamps.
H Arun Kumar, State Civil Supplies Commissioner, assured that measures were being taken urgently to transport crops to the nearest market yards and godowns. He also reported on the offline system for purchasing grain directly from farmers.
The video conference included participation from MD Dr. BR Ambedkar of the State Disaster Management Organization, Collectors from various districts, and other officials.
