Date:18/01/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/01/18/stories/2004011802210400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Central team to assess cyclone damage

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JAN. 17. An eight-member Central team, led by A.K. Jain, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home, is coming here on Sunday on a three-day visit for assessing the December 15 cyclone damage in the districts of Krishna, Guntur, East and West Godavari.

The team will be split into two groups -- one touring Krishna and Guntur districts and the other the Godavari areas. The groups will return on Wednesday after a meeting with the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, and the Chief Secretary, Mohan Kanda.

In a memorandum submitted to the Centre, the State put the loss at Rs.765.92 crores - agriculture loss Rs.351 crores and horticulture loss Rs.224 crores. The death tally was put at 37, a climbdown from 44 which was officially announced after the cyclone.

The Disaster Management Commissioner, Asutosh Mishra, said the list ignored seven deaths as they were found to have been caused by unrelated factors. The State is seeking Rs.367.47crores of Central assistance and five lakh tonnes of rice under SJRY special component programme.