PM Narendra Modi speaks to AP CM Chandrababu Naidu on cyclone damage. Andhra Pradesh seeks Central assistance after crop losses estimated at Rs. 4,906 crore.
PM Modi Calls Chandrababu Naidu, Reviews Impact of Cyclones Arnav and Murusu in Andhra Pradesh
Chief Minister briefs Prime Minister on crop losses and infrastructure damage
Seeks early Central assistance for affected farmers
Amaravati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and enquired about the impact of Cyclones Arnav and Murusu on the State, following two successive cyclonic events within a week.
During the telephonic conversation, the Chief Minister briefed the Prime Minister on the damage caused by heavy rainfall and strong winds in several districts. He explained that farmers had suffered extensive losses, with agricultural and horticultural crops bearing the brunt of the cyclones.
Naidu also apprised Modi of the damage to roads, electricity infrastructure and other sectors. He requested the Centre to extend appropriate financial assistance to help the State undertake relief, rehabilitation and restoration works.
The Prime Minister appreciated the State government's response to the cyclone-related challenges and commended the Chief Minister for maintaining continuous vigilance and preparedness while managing relief operations.
The Chief Minister has been in regular contact with the Union government to secure assistance for farmers affected by damage to agricultural and horticultural crops.
He has written to several Union Ministers and held discussions on the difficulties faced by farmers. Naidu has also spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah four times, following which Central assessment teams visited the affected areas.
The State government has submitted a preliminary report estimating the damage caused by Cyclone Arnav at Rs. 4,563 crore.
According to the report, 781 villages were severely affected, while agricultural crops spread across three lakh hectares and horticultural crops across 13,600 hectares in 16 districts suffered damage. The cyclone also damaged around 29,000 electricity poles and 7,981 km of power lines.
In a separate communication to the Union Home Minister, Naidu stated that Cyclone Murusu had severely affected 465 villages across seven districts.
The Chief Minister informed the Centre that paddy crops across 50,473 hectares and commercial crops across 1,985 hectares had been damaged due to strong winds. Preliminary estimates put property damage caused by Cyclone Murusu at Rs. 343 crore.
Naidu urged the Centre to announce immediate interim assistance to restore normalcy in the affected districts and provide relief to farmers who had suffered losses due to both cyclones.
In another letter, the Chief Minister requested Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to intervene with the concerned countries to facilitate the export of chilli consignments stranded at Colombo Port in Sri Lanka.
Naidu informed the Union Minister that more than 150 containers carrying chilli consignments meant for China, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and other countries were held up at the port.
The consignments, valued at approximately Rs. 60 crore, were reportedly stranded due to objections relating to permissible moisture content.
Pointing out that the delay was causing financial losses to farmers and exporters, the Chief Minister sought the Centre's intervention to resolve the issue and facilitate the movement of the consignments to their respective destinations.
The State government is seeking coordinated Central assistance to address the losses caused by the successive cyclones and provide relief to affected farmers, while also resolving export-related difficulties faced by the chilli trade.
