metro india news  I hyderabad

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday directed officials to accord top priority to protecting water-logged standing crops across Andhra Pradesh in the aftermath of Cyclone Montha. He instructed departments to use satellite imagery to identify submerged agricultural areas and initiate immediate drainage operations on a war footing.

Holding a teleconference with district collectors and agricultural officials, the Chief Minister emphasized that drainage improvement measures must be taken up swiftly to prevent permanent damage to standing crops. “Our focus should be on saving every acre of cultivable land affected by the cyclone. The situation demands coordinated field-level action,” Naidu said.

He advised officials to work closely with agricultural scientists and take technical guidance to minimize crop loss. He also urged people’s representatives to visit the affected fields and personally monitor restoration works. Officials informed the Chief Minister that nearly 60 percent of agricultural fields in the Bapatla region remain inundated, though efforts are underway to drain out excess water.

The Chief Minister directed that a preliminary report on crop loss be prepared and sent to the Central Government to facilitate the visit of a Central team for assessment. “I will personally speak to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and explain the extent of cyclone-related losses,” he said.

Reviewing the flood situation in the Krishna river basin, the Chief Minister called for continuous monitoring of flood flows and safety of embankments. He further announced that the government will honour officials who excelled in cyclone relief and rehabilitation efforts. “A felicitation ceremony will be held tomorrow to recognise around one hundred officials who displayed exceptional dedication during the Montha cyclone operations,” he said.