Tuesday 26 November 2013

Coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh all set to tackle Lehar

VISAKHAPATNAM: The district administrations of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari swung into action to prepare for Cyclone Lehar on Tuesday.

Visakhapatnam district collector Solomon Arokiaraj said that a Dornier aircraft had been kept ready at Visakhapatnam city for conducting aerial surveillance in case of emergency. While briefing ports and infrastructure minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao about the cyclone preparedness plans at a meeting here on Tuesday, Solomon said they had decided to send NDRF teams to Payakaraopeta, Rambilli, S Rayavaram, Yelamanchili and Munagapaka coastal mandals in addition to giving one team to Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation.

Even as five National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams arrived at Kakinada on Tuesday evening, East Godavari district collector Neetu Kumari Prasad declared a two-day holiday for schools and colleges from November 27 (Wednesday) and instructed officials to carry out forceful evacuation of people in high risk areas if need be.

She said that the coastal villages from Uppada to Katrenikona mandals have been identified as high risk areas and 22 fishing boats were at sea till Tuesday. She also said that 10 NDRF teams would be deployed in the requisite areas from Wednesday morning.

Convening a meeting with representatives of corporates along the shore in the district like Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), Coromandel Fertilizers, GAIL (India), Kakinada Sea Ports Limited, Nagarjuna Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited (NFCL), Neetu told them to keep ready their rescue machinery and teams to help government rescue teams in case of emergencies.


On other hand, Srikakulam collector Saurabh Gaur started visiting the high risk areas on Tuesday. While interacting with village heads and people at Ranasthalam, Pydibheemavaram, Boyapalem, Naruva, Mentada, Donipeta, Kovvada and Ramachandrapuram, Gaur urged the residents of thatched houses along the Bay of Bengal to co-operate with officials shifting them to safer places as part of the cyclone preparedness.

Interacting with a shepherd U Ramarao at Donipeta, Gaur told him not to rear sheep in the open till further instructions from officials. He also urged Rao to spread the message among his community.

"We have started all requisite measures from Tuesday itself to ensure that not a single death is reported. We expect nearly 20,000 people from the coastal areas in the district to be evacuated if necessary. Seventeen relief camp locations have been identified, three NDRF teams have been allocated to the district and evacuation will be done from Wednesday afternoon. Like Phailin, Lehar is also likely to impact the district," Gaur told TOI.


While explaining the district administration's preparedness, Gaur said that each high risk area would be allocated two ambulances, one fire tender, one lorry with fishing boat, five master swimmers and 10 life jackets. "One assistant engineer level officer has been appointed to monitor the water levels of ponds and agricultural tanks in the district. Nearly 3,500 electric poles were completely uprooted during cyclone Phailin and based on that experience, we have kept ready all requisite materials to ensure that power supply is not disrupted due to the latest calamity," Gaur added.

Similarly, Vizianagaram collector in-charge PA Sobha also said that special officers had already been deployed at the two coastal mandals of Poosapatirega and Bhogapuram in the district. "We hope that this cyclone will not have any impact on the district," she said.

Meanwhile, Eastern Power Distribution Company of AP Limited (EPDCL) chairman and managing director, MV Seshagiri Babu said that a special toll free number 180042555333 had been set up for people of the five coastal districts for help during the calamity. "People can also call up 0891-2582155 or 9440815000 to register any grievance or help from the discom in view of cyclone Lehar," he added.
 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Coastal-districts-of-Andhra-Pradesh-all-set-to-tackle-Lehar/articleshow/26442543.cms

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