Murasu likely to be less intense than Arnab: CM

Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has said that Cyclone Murasu is likely to have a relatively lower impact on the Andhra Pradesh coast compared to Cyclone Arnab but directed officials to remain fully alert and take all precautionary measures to prevent loss of life and property.

The Chief Minister conducted a review meeting with senior officials and District Collectors from the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) centre at the Secretariat on Monday to assess preparedness for the approaching cyclone. He said moderate to heavy rainfall was expected in the South Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. Weather forecasts indicated that wind speeds and rainfall intensity associated with Murasu would be lower than those experienced during Cyclone Arnab.

Naidu directed officials to utilise the rainfall effectively to replenish tanks and reservoirs, particularly in drought-affected areas, through proper water management. He said the government should turn the rainfall into an opportunity to improve water availability in the State. The Chief Minister observed that normalcy had been restored to a considerable extent in areas affected by Cyclone Arnab. Recalling the precautionary arrangements made from Srikakulam to Bapatla during the previous cyclone, he instructed officials to adopt similar preparedness measures to minimise the impact of Murasu. Officials informed the Chief Minister that 31,000 electricity poles had already been dispatched to the field from Srikakulam to Krishna district. They estimated that around 8,000 electricity poles in the South Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions could be affected by the strong winds associated with Murasu.

Another 1,000 personnel were arriving from Chennai to assist with electricity restoration works. The Chief Minister directed officials to deploy them strategically across various districts, particularly Nellore and Prakasam.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that Palnadu district was likely to receive the highest rainfall of around 30 cm, followed by Prakasam with 24 cm and Markapuram with 19 cm. Krishna and Guntur districts could receive up to 9 cm of rainfall, while Eluru and Nellore were also likely to receive around 9 cm each.

In view of the rainfall forecast, Naidu directed officials to give special attention to water management and ensure that the rainwater was properly stored. He instructed the administration to fill tanks and reservoirs in Guntur, Bapatla, Palnadu, Prakasam, Nellore and Markapuram districts, which had been experiencing rainfall deficits. He also called for an action plan to store water in reservoirs across the South Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema basins.

The Chief Minister directed officials to pay special attention to the safety of around 6,800 tanks across the six districts likely to be affected by the cyclone. He called for the activation of Water Users Associations and stressed the importance of involving local communities in monitoring the condition of tanks and identifying vulnerable locations. He instructed officials to utilise the works undertaken under the Jaladhara programme and take every precaution to prevent tank breaches. Naidu also directed officials to clear silt from drainage channels and take preventive measures to avoid inundation of agricultural fields. Proper drainage arrangements should be ensured to protect standing crops from waterlogging, he said.

The Chief Minister instructed officials to complete post-cyclone restoration works within 48 hours and ensure the speedy restoration of essential services. He also stressed the need to expedite crop insurance compensation and input subsidy processes to provide timely relief to farmers affected by natural calamities.

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Shyam Sundar Matham

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