Cyclone Murusu: CM Naidu Orders High Alert, Focuses on Water Harvesting
Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu directs officials to stay alert for Cyclone Murusu, focusing on water management and power restoration.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has convened a high-level review meeting to evaluate the state's Cyclone Murusu preparedness. Speaking with senior officials and district collectors at the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) Centre in the Secretariat on Monday, the Chief Minister issued strict directives to the administration to remain fully alert as moderate to heavy rainfall is anticipated across Rayalaseema and South Coastal Andhra districts.
Comparative Impact and Weather Forecast
While the state is bracing for the storm, Chief Minister Naidu noted that the impact of Cyclone Murusu on the Andhra Pradesh coast is expected to be relatively limited. Current forecasts suggest that both the intensity of rainfall and wind speeds will be lower than those experienced during Cyclone Arnab.
Despite the lower projected intensity, the government is not taking any chances. The Chief Minister emphasized the necessity of robust measures to ensure there is absolutely no loss of property or human life during the weather event.
Rainfall Projections by District
Officials have provided specific rainfall estimates for the affected regions:
- Palnadu: Expected to receive the highest rainfall, approximately 30 cm.
- Prakasam: Forecasted around 24 cm.
- Markapuram: Expected to receive 19 cm.
- Krishna, Guntur, Eluru, and Nellore: Likely to see rainfall up to 9 cm each.
Power Restoration and Infrastructure
Learning from previous experiences, the state has already mobilized significant resources to handle potential power outages. Officials informed the CM that 31,000 electricity poles have already been dispatched to the field, covering the stretch from Krishna to Srikakulam.
It is estimated that roughly 8,000 poles in the Rayalaseema and South Coastal districts could be damaged by the winds of Cyclone Murusu. To expedite recovery, 1,000 additional personnel are arriving from Chennai. The Chief Minister has directed that these teams be strategically deployed across various districts, specifically mentioning Prakasam and Nellore.
Turning a Crisis into an Opportunity: Water Management
In a strategic move, CM Naidu has instructed officials to view the impending rainfall as an opportunity to combat water scarcity. He directed the administration to implement efficient water management to fill reservoirs and tanks, particularly in districts that have faced a rainfall deficit, including:
- Guntur
- Bapatla
- Palnadu
- Prakasam
- Nellore
- Markapuram
The Chief Minister called for a comprehensive action plan to store water across the Rayalaseema and South Coastal basins. Special attention is to be paid to the safety of 6,800 tanks in the six most affected districts. To achieve this, the CM ordered the activation of Water Users Associations and urged public participation in monitoring tank conditions.
Preventing Agricultural Loss
To protect the farming community, the CM highlighted the importance of the Jaladhara programme, instructing officials to ensure no tank breaches occur. He further directed that preventive measures be taken to clear silt from drains to avoid the inundation of crops.
Post-Cyclone Recovery Goals
Setting a strict timeline for recovery, Chief Minister Naidu has mandated that all post-cyclone restoration works must be completed within 48 hours. Furthermore, he stressed the urgency of expediting the distribution of input subsidies and crop insurance compensation to support affected farmers.
The Chief Minister noted that normalcy had largely returned to areas hit by Cyclone Arnab, recalling the precautionary measures taken from Bapatla to Srikakulam, and expects the same level of efficiency in managing the impact of Cyclone Murusu.