Srikakulam: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said here Wednesday that he would apprise the Centre of the situation in Srikakulam district and try his best to get crop loans waived completely.
The district faced two major natural calamities in a span of 10 days. While Cyclone Phailin hit the district and damaged paddy, cashew, coconut and horticultural crops, heavy rains which lashed the district after this damaged cotton, maize and vegetables in around 1,03,794 hectare.
During his visit to Adapaka village in Laveru zone to inspect the flood-damaged cotton crop, he interacted with farmers and assured them that government would extend best possible relief to affected families.
Farmers told the chief minister that they do not expect anything from the government for their day-to-day existence and urged him to save them from the debt trap by waiving loans.
He visited Budumuru village and inspected the breach in the Narayanasagaram tank from which water damaged hundreds of acres of crops and several houses.
Reddy also visited Voppangi village where hundreds of acres of paddy crop are still under flood water.
He instructed officials to send estimates for temporary and permanent restoration and directed them to bring about normalcy within a week.
Addressing reporters, he said paddy crop in 91,296 hectare, cotton in 7,172 hectare, maize in 2,933 hectare and vegetables in 1,728 hectare were damaged causing an approximate loss of Rs 265.29 crore.
Heavy floods caused breaches to 535 canals and damaged 423 tanks. The irrigation sector requires Rs 15 crore for temporary restoration and Rs 50 crore for permanent restoration.
