Focus on mitigation: Chandrababu Naidu to staff

Amaravati: Stating that mitigation is most crucial in the entire disaster management cycle, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed the government functionaries to be alert on the forecast of severe Cyclone Phethai.

The Chief Minister held a teleconference with officials on the precautionary measures to be taken in view of the threat posed by Cyclone Phethai.  He said that the officials should be with the people at this juncture and give a sort of confidence that the government is with them during the cyclone, keeping the experience of the recent Cyclone Titli.

Naidu asked the electricity department to restore the power as early as possible, after the cyclone hits the coast based on the predictions. The traffic on the roads must be cleared immediately. For that the Roads and Buildings and Transport departments were asked to clear the fallen trees from the roads. 

Even Panchayat Raj department officials were asked to remove the trees and waste material from the roads in coordination with other departments. The Roads and Buildings and Water Resources Departments officials were directed to repair the damaged roads and bridges immediately. 

There should not be any delay in executing the damage control measures in these departments, Chandrababu Naidu stressed. Chief Minister asked the officials to assess the expected damage to electricity poles. 

The damaged electric poles must be replaced on a war footing, he directed. For that the authorities were asked to transport the poles well in advance as predicted.

He directed to deploy the required generators at the disaster relief camps, well in advance. During the disaster management, the departments like fire, disaster management will play a crucial role, Chandrababu Naidu said.

Both SDRF and NDRF teams’ services will be necessary for the society at this juncture, he added. The Chief Minister directed the District Collectors to ensure proper supply of food and drinking water after the cyclone hit the coast on Monday.

He asked the officials to create awareness among people in villages on the Phethai cyclone and its severity. He said that the people must be educated to know their duties during the disaster management and that would help in reducing the loss of lives, livestock and controlling property damage.

The Chief Minister said officials should alert people in cyclone-prone areas and procure rice, dal, oil, potatoes and onion for supply during cyclone. 
He said farmers should protect their paddy by harvesting in advance. 

Officials should extend assistance to farmers in protecting the paddy from rain. He said paddy purchasing centres should function 24 hours to help the farmers at the hour of crisis.