AP govt enhances relief for cyclone-hit areas

The state government has enhanced the relief compensation for the crops damaged due to recent cyclone in the four coastal districts of Krishna, Guntur, East and West Godavari.

This is addition to the relief measures and restoration operations being taken up in the affected areas. The state government is also requesting the centre to relax the procurement norms of FCI in view of discolouring and damage to the quality of various crops.

Addressing a press conference, the chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that his government was trying to get all possible help from the central government. He called upon the insurance companies to disburse the crop compensation to the farmers at the earliest.

He announced that the per hectare relief compensation had been enhanced from Rs 750 to Rs 1000 for jowar, bajra, ragi, castor, from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200 for paddy, maize, redgram, sunflower, soyabeen, from Rs 1,250 to Rs 1,500 for groundnut, cotton, sugarcane, turmeric, chillies, vegetables, onion, flowers, papaya and the horticulture crops, from Rs 2,800 to Rs 3,000 for mango, citrus, cashew nut, sapota, guava, pomegranate, ber, banana.

Rs 55 would be given for for coconut crop in a cent area. Relief compensation is also enhanced for the betel vine from Rs 55 to Rs 75. According to the latest estimates, crop damage occurred in 2.34 lakh hectares in the four districts, while damage was caused to horticulture crops in another 22,207 hectares.

Paddy, black gram, green gram, mirchi banana and vegetable crops suffered the major losses. The actual loss in terms of value due to damage of crops and other properties is being worked out, the chief minister said.