“Nilam” cyclone: Rs 3560 Cr assistance sought from Centre

Hyderabad, June 14 : The State Government had sought financial assistance of Rs 3,560.32 crore from the Centre towards the damages suffered due to Nilam cyclone last year.

Furnishing the details in response to a question raised by MLAs Ch Prabhakar and others during Question Hour in the State Legislative Assembly, Revenue Minister Dr N Raghuveera Reddy said that the Nilam Cyclone played havoc in 19 districts from October 29 to November 8 last year. Damages occurred to Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Sericulture, Handlooms and Textiles, Housing, Roads and Bridges, Rural Water Supply, Irrigation, Power, Panchayat Raj and Municipal Administration sectors.

Under NDCF funds, Rs 296.29 crore was sought for Rescue and Relief and Rs 553.22 crore for temporary restoration. Similarly, Rs 2,710.81 crore have been sought from the Centre for permanent restoration.

As per the final enumeration reports, Agriculture crops spread across 434,829.69 Hectares in 14 districts were damaged. Similarly, 32,111.86 Hectares of Horticulture crops were damaged due to Nilam cyclone.

As many as 410 relief camps were organised in nine districts and 3.51 lakh people were provided shelter, food, water and medical assistance. The families of 61 persons who lost their lives due to Nilam cyclone, were paid compensation of Rs 2 lakh each which includes Rs 1.50 lakh from SDRF and Rs 50,000 from Apathbandhu. As many as 30,973 houses, including 7,311 huts and 1,286 cattle sheds were damaged.

The minister said that keeping in view the extensive damages caused to crops, the government enhanced input subsidy in respect of 34 Agriculture and Horticulture crops to an extend of 68 per cent, with maximum enhancement up to Rs 10,000 per Hectares in respect of major crops like paddy, groundnut, cotton, sugarcane, chilies, vegetables, onion, flowers, papaya, water-melon and tobacco. INN