Hyderabad: Cyclone warning centres, multi-purpose cyclone relief shelters, transport and communications network including underground cabling will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,800 crore in the cyclone prone areas of AP.
The Centre has allocated funds and has made the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) the nodal agency to execute the projects.
AP’s 1030 km coastline is the second largest in the country after Gujarat. Officials said AP is exposed to cyclones, storm surges, floods and droughts. Every two to three years, AP experiences a moderate to severe cyclone. While the entire AP coast is vulnerable to cyclones, the nine coastal districts are most vulnerable.
“Chief Minister Naidu has directed officials to set up cyclone warning centres, and put in place an alert system through which people living in cyclone-prone areas can be alerted through SMSes,” an official said.
NDMA secretary S.N. Mohanty said works would be taken up in two phases. In the first phase, Rs 400 crore would be spent on setting up cyclone warning centres and in the second phase, shelters would be built.
