Stage is set for major improvement in cyclone- resilient infrastructure in the cyclone prone north coastal Andhra Pradesh districts.
The State government has accorded administrative sanction for Rs. 2,200 crore for taking up restoration works. The works, to be launched under the AP Disaster Recovery Project (APDRP), will be funded jointly by the World Bank and the State government in the ratio 68:32.
Accordingly, the World Bank’s arms International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and International Development Association will finance US $ 250 million (approximately Rs. 1,550 crore) and the State government, on its part, would spend US $ 120 million (approximately Rs. 670 crore) as its share.
The APDRP envisages restoration, improvement and enhancement of resilience of public services, environmental facilities and livelihood opportunities in the targeted communities in coastal areas – specifically the four affected districts Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari. The project also aims at enhancing the capacity of the State entities to respond promptly and effectively to an eligible crisis or emergency.
The project, with an implementation period of five years, had been divided into some major categories. These include resilient electrical network, restoration of connectivity and shelter infrastructure including rural roads, cyclone shelters and major district roads, restoration and protection of the beach front, restoration of environmental services and facilities in addition to capacity building and technical support for disaster risk management.
The government had, accordingly, entrusted the responsibility of different works to different departments including Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited, Panchayat Raj, Roads and Buildings Department, Forest Department and the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation. A State-level project steering committee constituted at the apex level for national cyclone risk mitigation project would oversee and monitor the overall progress of works. The State Project Implementation Unit of the NCRMP would act as the Project Management Unit and it would be supported by experts drawn from each of the line departments implementing the project investments. The line departments would be responsible for the execution of the works and ensure maintenance of the infrastructure created under the project.
These departments would appoint nodal officers and would execute the projects through the respective field officers.
