AP Govt Seeks Rs 4500 cr Immediate Central Assistance for Twin Cyclone Damages

Soon after his telephonic conversationwith the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister N sent a proposal for “immediate” central assistance of over Rs 4,500 crore to take up relief works in all the areas that were affected by twin cyclones, Arnab and Murasu, within a gap of three days.

The state government estimated that very severe cyclonic storm Arnab inflicted a loss of at least Rs 4,563 crore and severe cyclonic storm Murasu, immediately after that Rs 343 crore. The two weather systems had struck the state within a week.

“Amid Arnab cyclone loss, immediately sanction an amount of Rs 4,563 crore for relief,” said Naidu in a letter to the Centre. The CM has already spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah multiple times and detailed to him the extent of the damage. The letter said that the first cyclone, Arnab, had battered 781 villages. The government said cyclone Arnab damaged three lakh hectares of crops and 13,600 horticulture crops in 16 districts. It has destroyed 29,000 electric poles and nearly 8,000-km-long power lines.

Citing ‘Murasu’, the letter said it has severely affected 465 villages in seven districts. It also destroyed crops in nearly 52,500 hectares.

Naidu requested the Centre to extend immediate help to restore normalcy in the affected districts from the two cyclones and also help the farmers.