Kakinada: Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan directed district officials to ensure that every individual affected by Cyclone Montha receives fair compensation and relief. He instructed them to prepare accurate estimates of crop and property damage and ensure that the government’s announced aid reaches every affected family.
During a video conference with the Kakinada District Collector, SP, DRO, RDOs, PADA Project Director, and officials from Panchayat Raj, Roads and Buildings, Agriculture, and Electricity departments, the Deputy Chief Minister reviewed post-cyclone relief operations. He sought detailed reports on the extent of damage across the district, including the situation in Pithapuram constituency.
Officials briefed that 21 mandals and seven municipalities were affected in the district. Collector Shan Mohan reported that 61 houses were damaged and 41,932 families were impacted, including 27,624 fisherfolk and 313 handloom families. Crop loss was recorded across 21,711 hectares, while 668 acres of banana and papaya plantations suffered damage. A total of 33,596 farmers were affected. Electric infrastructure and roads were also extensively damaged. In Pithapuram constituency alone, 2,500 farmers faced crop losses in both paddy and horticulture fields.
Pawan Kalyan expressed concern over the hardships faced by farmers who lost their yield just before harvest. He stated that the government must ensure compensation reaches every affected farmer. He emphasized that officials should act in the farmers’ interest while preparing loss assessments and should also include property damage details. He directed immediate compensation for damaged houses and urged officials to drain stagnated water from low-lying areas and maintain sanitation.
The Deputy Chief Minister further instructed officials to identify damaged roads and take up temporary repairs without delay. He said temporary stone walls were erected near Subbampeta in U Kothapalli mandal to protect the coast from sea erosion and added that similar measures would be extended to other coastal villages until permanent sea walls are constructed. A comprehensive plan for the protection of coastal villages would be prepared, he added.
Reviewing the situation in Pithapuram constituency, Pawan Kalyan enquired about the condition of villages such as Uppada, Mulapeta, Konapapapeta, Aminabad, and Subbampeta that were affected by sea erosion. He said several areas were submerged following heavy rainfall after the cyclone, especially low-lying zones near Karivepaku Peta in Pithapuram town. He directed officials to drain floodwater immediately and take sanitation measures to prevent mosquito breeding and the spread of diseases. He also instructed the medical department to remain alert in vulnerable areas.
Pawan Kalyan noted that parts of the Yeleru canal embankment near Gorrekande were weak and needed strengthening on a war footing to prevent flooding. He also directed immediate crop loss assessments in Mallavaram where cotton farmers suffered heavy damage and assured that justice would be done to them
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