The very severe cyclonic storm Hudhud has impacted 247,558 hectares (ha) of agricultural land in Odisha of which 40,484.5 ha have sustained crop loss of over 50 per cent.
A preliminary damage assessment report by the state agriculture department has pegged the crop loss at Rs 23.77 crore.
The cultivable area has been affected in eight southern Odisha districts- Gajapati, Ganjam, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Rayagada.
The crop loss area includes 25,170 ha of rainfed area, 13,374 ha of irrigated area and 346.5 ha of perennial area.
The agriculture department has sought an assistance of Rs 4,500 per ha for crops damaged in rainfed area, Rs 9,000 per ha for irrigated area and Rs 12,000 per ha for perennial area.
The damage to electrical infrastructure by Hudhud has been assessed at Rs 104.35 crore. The cyclonic storm had affected 773,691 electrical consumers, mainly in southern Odisha districts like Rayagada, Koraput Gajapati, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri.
The cyclone has ravaged seven power transformers, 1,754 distribution transformers, 1,088 LT (low tension) lines, 2,500 number of 11 KV feeders and 125 number of 33 KV feeders. The state government is set to send the detailed report to the Centre shortly on damage inflicted by the cyclone.
Source - http://www.business-standard.com/
