HELPING HAND: REBUILDING PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AFTER CYCLONES

15 Nov 2026

Tags: Disaster Management   Risk & Preparedness   Disaster response

Source: The Hindu

Context: Back-to-back cyclones Arnab (October 28) and Murasu (November 3) struck the Andhra Pradesh coast, causing extensive damage to crops and public infrastructure.

• Despite significant economic losses, long-term preparedness and swift administrative response helped minimise human casualties.

Impact of the Cyclones

• Andhra Pradesh: Cyclone Arnab caused estimated damage of ₹4,526 crore, while Cyclone Murasu affected approximately 52,500 hectares of standing crops. The State reported seven deaths from both cyclones.
• Odisha: Cyclone Arnab damaged nearly 90,000 hectares of standing crops in southern districts.
• Relief assistance: Following preliminary on-the-spot damage assessments, the Union government is expected to release the first instalment of financial assistance to affected States.
• Inter-State cooperation: Personnel from Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu assisted Andhra Pradesh in rescue and relief operations.

Role of Technology and Disaster Preparedness

• Real Time Governance Society (RTGS): Deployment of RTGS and other technologies improved disaster monitoring, coordination and response, significantly reducing casualties and property damage.
• Comparison with Cyclone Hudhud (2014): Andhra Pradesh reported 63 deaths and estimated damage of nearly ₹22,000 crore during Cyclone Hudhud, highlighting improvements in disaster preparedness.
• Institutional collaboration: Greater cooperation is needed between higher educational institutions, particularly in science and technology, and Central and State government agencies to strengthen disaster preparedness and management.

Challenges in Post-Disaster Recovery

• Agricultural losses: Farmers continue to face inadequate compensation for crop damage caused by natural disasters.
• Limitations of crop insurance: The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has not provided comprehensive protection against agricultural losses.
• Infrastructure reconstruction: Extensive damage to public infrastructure places a heavy financial burden on affected State governments.
• Relief versus recovery: Immediate disaster relief is relatively prioritised, while long-term restoration and reconstruction require greater financial support.

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

• Launched: 2016 by the Union Government to provide insurance coverage against crop losses arising from natural calamities, pests and diseases.
• Objective: Stabilise farmers' income, encourage adoption of modern agricultural practices and ensure continuity of agricultural activities.
• Required reforms:
  • Improve insurance coverage and encourage greater participation of farmers.
  • Strengthen awareness through State governments.
  • States should supplement insurance benefits to provide additional protection to farmers.

Disaster Financing: Role of Disaster Response Funds

• National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF): Provides financial assistance for meeting expenditure on immediate relief during notified disasters when State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) resources are inadequate.
• State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF): Primary fund available with State governments for responding to notified disasters.
• 15th Finance Commission: Following its recommendations, recovery and reconstruction were incorporated as components of NDRF and SDRF two years ago, expanding their scope beyond immediate response and relief.
• Need for additional assistance: The Centre should provide additional financial support for permanent restoration of extensively damaged public infrastructure to reduce the burden on affected States.

Way Forward

• Comprehensive crop compensation: Develop an effective framework for timely and adequate compensation for crop losses.
• Universal crop insurance coverage: Improve PMFBY implementation, farmer awareness and State-level supplementary support.
• Technology-driven preparedness: Strengthen real-time monitoring, early warning systems and coordination among disaster management agencies.
• Permanent reconstruction: Prioritise long-term restoration of roads, public utilities and other critical infrastructure instead of limiting assistance to immediate relief.
• Research and innovation: Encourage collaboration between scientific institutions and government agencies for disaster-resilient infrastructure and preparedness.
• Cooperative federalism: The Union and State governments must coordinate relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction, with the Centre extending adequate financial assistance to disaster-affected States.

Important Institutional Framework

• Disaster Management Act, 2005: Provides the statutory framework for disaster management in India and establishes the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs).
• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): Apex statutory body responsible for laying down policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management, chaired by the Prime Minister.
• Disaster management cycle: Comprises four broad stages — Prevention, Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, Recovery and Reconstruction (often grouped into pre-disaster and post-disaster phases).

Conclusion: Disaster management must move beyond immediate relief towards resilient reconstruction, effective crop insurance and sustained financial support. Cooperative federalism is essential to ensure that States can recover from increasingly frequent extreme weather events.