Cyclone Michaung: Jagan Asks Collectors To Remain Alert, Help People On War-Footing

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy today held a video conference with eight district Collectors to discuss the precautions to be taken in view of the looming Cyclone Michaung, from his camp office in Tadepalli.

Officials from various departments participated in the video conference.

Speaking on the occasion, Jagan said that the entire government machinery should remain be vigilant during the cyclone.

"Met officials said that the administration needs to be vigilant as there is possibility of the cyclone hitting the coast near Bapatla at a speed of 110 km per hour. We have the experience of seeing big cyclones like Hudhud, and our machinery has good experience in combating cyclones, but we should nevertheless be on the highest alert, " he said.

He said that instructions had already been given to provide funds of Rs 2 crore to each district for emergency expenses, and that senior officers were being appointed as special officers for each district. He said that all of them should monitor the rescue operations along with the district administration.

He also said that it was the responsibility of the Collectors to ensure that there was no loss of life of people and cattle. He said that it was very important to save the harvested Kharif crop, and suggested that the authorities focus on procuring the harvested grain immediately.

The CM also said that the affected people should be shifted to safer places from cyclone-affected areas, and added that 308 camps had been identified and 181 had been opened so far.

"We already have five NDRF teams and five SDRF teams, and we also have village secretariats, volunteers, village clinics and RBKs. In order to save the lives of our people, all those services should be utilised in areas where there is a possibility of damage due to heavy rains, and good facilities should be provided to the people coming to the relief camps. We should provide medicines, drinking water and good food, and there should not be any shortage of facilities," the CM said.

"And compensation should be delivered on time. The people should go home with smiles from the camp. Rs 1,000 for each person and Rs 2,500 to each family, 25 kg rice, tur dal, palm oil, onions and potatoes should be provided to them. In case of damage to hutments due to winds and rains, Rs 10,000 should be paid, and these should be provided within 24 hours of the cyclone," he added.

Jagan also said that there needed to be focus on the maintenance of emergency services, and also that health camps to prevent the spread of diseases needed to be set up. Pregnant women needed to be shifted to hospitals, and sanitation programs needed to be carried out on a war-footing, he said.

"The special officers should focus on bringing back normalcy, and complete enumeration immediately on the damage caused to crops after the cyclone and rains subsided. I will also roam around the cyclone-affected areas, and ask the people about the performance of their Collectors and about the functioning of the government machinery. I should not hear from the victims that help has not been received. The special officers will start monitoring the districts from this evening, and all arrangements have been made to send money immediately if required," he added.