Andhra hikes compensation for cyclone-hit; PM announces Rs1,000 immediate aid to state

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Rs1,000 crore immediate assistance for the cyclone-hit state of Andhra Pradesh, even as the Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP government  announced an upward revision in compensation for loss of life and property in the cyclone-affected districts of the state, including ex-gratia payment to the kin of the deceased.

The state government has decided to enhance the compensation for the next of kin of the deceased to Rs5 lakh per person from Rs1.5 lakh proposed earlier.

Besides, there is an increase in the amount of money payable as compensation to people for loss of crops, or damage to property or infrastructure.

Compensation rate for loss of milch animals and poultry has also been increased.

Under the revised formula, compensation for loss of crop of paddy, groundnut, sugarcane, chillies, vegetables, onion, flowers, papaya and watermelon, the cash compensation would be Rs15,000 per hectare against Rs10,000 per hectare decided earlier.

For maize, it will be Rs12,500 per hectare against Rs8,333; pulses, sunflower, soyabean, wheat etc Rs10,000 (Rs5,250); mango, citrus, cashew nut, guava, pomegranate etc Rs20,000 (Rs15,000); banana Rs25,000 (Rs24,000) and coconut tree Rs1,000 per tree (Rs500 per tree) with a maximum limit of 150 trees per hectare.

There is also an increase in the cash compensation for fishermen for loss of fishing boats while weavers will get Rs10,000 (Rs5,000) for replacement of fully damaged loom.

The state government has also decided to include loss of pushcart in relief scheme with proposed compensation of Rs5,000 per unit, and a similar amount to street vendors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Visakhapatnam by a special flight at around 1.30 pm after conducting an aerial survey of some of the cyclone-hit areas in the district.

Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, who is already camping in the port city to oversee the relief operations, urged the PM to treat the devastation caused by Cyclone Hudhud as a ''national calamity'' and requested for an assistance of Rs2,000 crore.