Top priority to protect water-logged standing crops, says CM Naidu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nm Chandrababu Naidu on Friday directed the officials to focus on protection of submerged crops as part of post Montha cyclone relief measures.

He said submerged agricultural fields should be identified through satellite images and initiate measures to drain out the water on a war footing.

The Chief Minister in a tele conference with officials said officials should focus on improving drainage system to protect the submerged standing crops.

Naidu said people's representatives also should visit fields to monitor the situation and to protect the crops. He said the advices of scientists should be taken to protect the crops. The officials said that sixty per cent of agricultural fields in Bapatla region were still under water and they are making efforts to drain out water.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to submit a priliminary report on crop loss to Central Government to invite a central team to assess crop loss.

As part of it, he said that he will talk to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and explain over cyclone loss. The Chief Minister enquired with the officials on flood flow in Krishna river. He asked the officials to felicitate those officials who excelled in Montha cyclone relief works and a felicitation programme should be organized tomorrow to felicitate hundred such officials.