Priority to Protection of Life, Property: AP CM
The CM called for release of cyclone bulletins every hour from Tuesday morning.
Vijayawada: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has stressed that the government’s top priority is to protect the lives and properties of the people caught in the path of Montha cyclonic storm.
Naidu chaired a high-level review meeting at the secretariat on Monday to gear up the administrative machinery and initiate a series of measures ranging from protection of the people and their evacuation to relief camps before the storm’s onset. “Officials would extend all relief and restore infrastructure in case of any damage to installations," he stated.
The CM called for release of cyclone bulletins every hour from Tuesday morning. There should be no disruption in the communication network and officials must use satellite phones. Set up mobile towers at strategic locations, he said.
He sought special efforts in 2,707 village/ward secretariat limits that could be hit worse. Officials would set up 3,211 generators for power backup in 110 mandals. “Under any circumstance, the communication network should not be affected.”
“Not a single life should be lost,” Naidu directed the officials.
He said officials would evacuate the people living in the coastal areas to rehabilitation centres. They must be supplied with essential commodities along with 25kg of rice. “On a long-term basis, we must prepare plans on how to deal with drought and cyclonic storms,” he said.
The officials informed the CM about the rainfall in north and south coastal areas and said Krishana district was likely to have heavy rainfall on Tuesday. Fishermen who ventured into the sea were brought back for safety, they said.
The chief minister asked departments like fire service, roads and buildings, panchayat raj, energy, health etc to be in readiness to deal with the situation. They must keep all their equipment ready. “Set up control rooms. Due attention must be given to check the spread of contagious diseases and maintenance of sanitation in the affected districts,” he told the officials.
He wanted the 108 and 104 ambulances to be in readiness to avoid any trouble to the pregnant women and lactating women. “Keep adequate stocks of anti-snake venom and anti-rabies vaccine in all PHCs and also tarpaulin sheets to protect crops. We must take steps to avoid loss of livestock.”
Naidu said the officials should make use of their experience in handling the previous cyclonic storms like Titli, Hurricane, Hudhud etc. Regular alerts must be sent to the people and special steps in advance to minimise the intensity and extent of damage. He warned of stern action against the officials in case they show slackness in discharge of their duty during the emergency situations.
Later, the CM held a teleconference with the district collectors and SPs and issued a series of directions. Medical teams, he said, must provide emergency healthcare services and conduct medical camps in rehabilitation centers.
He said, “There is a need to appoint in-charges to rehabilitation centres. Officials must pay `3,000 per affected family and provide essential commodities and 25kg of rice, per family, in such centres. There must be efforts to avoid landslides in hilly areas in Vijayawada, Mangalagiri and Visakhapatnam.”
