Bhatti directs Collectors to use SDRF, treasury funds for cyclone relief works

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka directed all District Collectors to utilise SDRF and treasury funds for cyclone relief and rehabilitation works. He assured that there would be no financial constraints and instructed officials to stay alert and expedite restoration efforts

Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has directed all District Collectors to utilise the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) and treasury funds under Treasury Rules 27 for relief and rehabilitation measures.

“Get the expenditure ratified within 30 days. There will be no financial constraints for the required works,” he assured officials during a video conference held on Thursday to review the cyclone situation.

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Bhatti said that since the government had issued an alert 48 hours in advance, the coordinated response helped avert loss of lives and large-scale property damage.

He instructed Collectors and officials to remain on high alert for the next 24 hours and intensify relief and rehabilitation activities. The cyclone’s impact, he said, was unfortunate as it moved from Krishna district through Nalgonda and Khammam, causing difficult conditions across North Telangana.

Of the 11 damaged 33/11 kV substations, seven have been restored and the remaining four are expected to be repaired within hours. Of the 101 damaged 33 kV lines, 96 have been restored and the remaining five will be completed today. Similarly, of the 237 damaged 11 kV lines, 227 have been repaired. Bhatti said 171 distribution transformers (DTRs) were damaged, of which 49 have been restored and the rest will be repaired shortly. Out of 638 damaged electricity poles, 304 have been replaced and work is under way to replace the remaining 334.