With depression in Bay of Bengal, inclement weather prevails in Nellore
Nellore: Inclement weather prevailed in SPSR Nellore district following a forecast of heavy rains there. The region is limping back to normalcy after rains battered the district between November 10 and 15.
Day temperature was down at 23 degrees on Monday, against the 29.3 degrees on Sunday. Farmers are worried over the tanks in their neighbourhood, which were 70 per cent full because of the heavy rains last week. “We are worried over possible breaches in case of further inflows into them,” they said.
Voicing the concern of the farming community, the state general secretary of the federation of farmers’ association, Ch Koti Reddy, urged the irrigation department to keep a close watch on tanks that were vulnerable to breach. Sand bags should be kept ready to arrest the breeches, he said.
Reminding the authorities that the ongoing northeast monsoon plays havoc with Nellore district, he called for urgent steps to prevent loss of human lives and cattle in the floods.
Collector Chakradhar Babu said the district administration was ready to handle the situation arising out of the depression. Communication sets, boats, tree cutters, and rescue equipment were kept ready.
The Somasila project was kept at a safe level of 68 tmc-ft with a cushion of 10 tmc-ft to accommodate the floodwaters. All low-lying areas were alerted and the cyclone shelters made functional. Nadu Nedu schools and kitchens would be used for camps, if needed.
Fire, coast guard, police, health, revenue and all the disaster management departments have been alerted. The Nellore Corporation, RWS, Municipalities and Panchayats are equipped with bleaching powder/chlorine tablets and other supplies for special sanitation drives and to ensure safe drinking water supply. The district control room with toll free number 1077 would be functional round-the-clock.
Sufficient paddy seed and fertilizers were stocked for supply to farmers at 80 per cent subsidy if the nurseries were affected.
