Andhra Pradesh State Government has sought Central assistance for farmers affected by cyclones Arnab and Murasu. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has taken up the issue with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking support.
According to the State’s preliminary report, Cyclone Arnab caused losses estimated at 4,563 crore rupees. It severely affected 781 villages across 16 districts.
Crops over three lakh hectares and horticultural crops over 13,600 hectares were damaged. The cyclone also damaged 29,000 electricity poles and 7,981 km of power lines. The State has sought 4,563 crore rupees in relief.
Cyclone Murasu affected 465 villages in seven districts. Paddy crops over 50,473 hectares and commercial crops over 1,985 hectares were damaged. The preliminary loss to property was estimated at 343 crore rupees.
The State has sought interim assistance to help farmers and restore normalcy in the affected areas. The government has also taken up the issue of over 150 chilli containers stranded at Colombo Port in Sri Lanka.
The consignments, worth around 60 crore rupees, were meant for China, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore. They have been held up over concerns about moisture content.
Mr Naidu has written to Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, seeking intervention to clear the consignments and prevent further losses to farmers and exporters.