Andhra Pradesh government has taken up restoration works, including sanitation, repair of damaged roads and providing food to people displaced by Hudhud cyclone in the North Andhra coastal districts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inspect cyclone-affected areas at 1.15 pm in Visakhaptnam through an aerial survey, said Dr Parakala Prabhakar, advisor (communication) to the AP government. He said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu asked for ad hoc relief of Rs 2,000 crores. He also requested the Centre to declare the Hudhud cyclone as a national calamity. Five teams have been deployed for relief and rehabilitation efforts, he added.
The government has deputed senior IAS officers to look into various works like health and an emergency team would be led by L.V. Subramanyam and Manmohan Singh will monitor efforts. Sanjay Jaju will monitor sanitation measures while S.P Tucker will lead a team to monitor restoration works on Power lines. To monitor technology, satellite feeds and remote sensing images in order to estimate crop/property loss through satellite technology, J. Satyanarayana has been appointed.
Energy Secretary Ajay Jain and Sam Bob have been entrusted to supervise works of roads, drinking water and infrastructure restoration. These measures will be taken on a war-footing note, said Dr Parakala.
The Chief Minister said 50 tons of material from Vijayawada and 50 tons from Rajahmundry has been airlifted to provide food to the people in the shelter camps, Dr Prabhakar said, adding that each affected family will receive 25 kg rice, one kg sugar and five liters of kerosene. For fisherman and weavers, whose works have been affected, five liters of kerosene, 50 kg rice and one kg sugar will be provided. Communication systems have been snapped and 80% of lines have been cut off.
To restore communications network, diesel transportation will be taken care of by police department, he said. By Monday night, the government will try to restore all the telecom systems, Dr Parakala added. He also said enumeration to estimate crop and property loss has begun. Some 45,000 electric poles have been ordered to restore power lines immediately. Of this, 2000 poles reached Vizag and restoration works are being carried out. He said 500 field staff, 100 engineers are working day and night to restore normalcy. He said works on in full swing to restore Vizag airport by Monday night.
Dr Parakala said people can donate for Cyclone relief to: Account name: AP CM Relief Fund, SBI account:33913634404, IFSC Code: SBIN0002724, Branch Name: SBI Treasury Branch, Gowliguda, Hyderabad. If they want to send a cheque, they can send it to Deputy Secretary, Revenue Department, L-Block, AP Secretariat, Hyderabad. (NSS)
