Andhra Pradesh cyclone management can be a model for other states, says official
Union Home Ministry Joint Secretary Chittaranjan Das praised the state's technology-driven monitoring and coordination system during a visit to Kakinada district.
Union Home Ministry Joint Secretary Chittaranjan Das praised the precautionary and technological measures taken by Andhra Pradesh ahead of and after Cyclone Arnab, according to the Deccan Chronicle.
Mr Das led a central inter-ministerial team to inspect damage in the Kakinada district on Sunday. The team included officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Union Ministry of Finance, the Union Ministry of Power, and the Central Electricity Authority.
The joint secretary noted that the district administration adopted best practices in disaster management. He specifically highlighted the technology-driven monitoring and coordination system implemented through the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS).
Kakinada District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad stated that agricultural and horticultural crops across approximately 55,000 hectares were damaged, affecting 86,897 farmers. Losses were also reported in the fisheries, power, road infrastructure, and housing sectors.
The central team, accompanied by Joint Collector Apoorva Bharat, visited Viravada village in Pithapuram mandal to assess damage to banana crops. Farmers told the team that banana bunches could fetch between ₹250 to ₹300 depending on quality, potentially generating ₹1.25 lakh to ₹1.50 lakh per acre.