A majority of total 402 cyclone shelters in Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam districts were damaged and unable to protect distressed people during natural calamities. The government had constructed nearly 1,112 cyclone shelters in nine coastal districts after the devastating cyclone of 1977, which claimed nearly 10,000 lives particularly in Divi seema of Krishna district, but due to the negligence of the officials most of these shelters have seen any maintenance.
As many as 84 cyclone shelters out of total 181 in Krishna district are unable to provide relief people during natural calamities.
Machilipatnam, Koduru, Nagayalanka, Kruttivennu, Avanigadda, Bantumilli and Mopidevi are identified as cyclone-prone mandals in Krishna district. Jaggayyapeta, Kanchikacharla, Chandarlapadu, Ibrahimpatnam, Penamaluru, Thotlavalluru, Kankipadu, Ghantasala, Challapalli, Pamidimukkla, Vijayawada urban and rural mandals were identified as flood-affected.
The cyclone shelters in the seacoast villages like Tummalapalem, Polatitippa, Pedapatnam, Gilakaladindi, Tallapalem, Gokavaram, Sarangipalem, Chinakaragraharam, Rudravaram, Pallepalem and others were in total dilapidated conditions.
Officials demolished cyclone shelters of Campbellpeta, Chinnapuram and Tummalachervu in 2009 due to total ruin of shelters but did not construct new shelters.
Machilipatnam Fishermen Association leader, G Yedukondalu recalled that cyclone shelters had saved fishermen during cyclones and natural calamities several times. He lamented that a majority of shelters are in dilapidated conditions which will never rescue people in the seacoast villages but will do harm as they are ready to collapse. He said that May to December months are prone to cyclones and other disasters hence the government should repair these shelters to help people.
Similarly in Guntur district, the government had constructed 123 cyclone shelters and majority of them were damaged and in dilapidated condition. For instance, there were 20 cyclone shelters in Bapatla mandal but a majority of them were in very bad condition with cracked walls, damaged roofs, broken windows and doors without water and electricity facility.
As many as 74 fishermen villages in 11 mandals of 102 km of seacoast would be on peril during cyclones. The government had constructed 98 cyclone shelters in these mandals but many of them were damaged.
K Venkateswarlu and other fishermen of the Chakicharla seacoast village said that officials are neglecting repairs to these cyclone shelters and using nearby government schools as relief shelters to shift people during natural calamities.
They alleged that these cyclone shelters would be vacant all the time hence some people are using them for illegal activities. They opined that if government turns these cyclone shelters into multipurpose community shelters then it will be useful for the public.
Fishermen of K Pallepalem village recalled that they had faced a lot of difficulties to stay in the dilapidated cyclone shelter during Laila and Jal cyclones when sea water surrounded their village. They said that lack of maintenance is the main cause behind damage of these shelters and demanded the government to renovate these shelters. The officials of the Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam districts said that proposals were sent to government about repairs to damaged shelters and works would be started soon after getting approval.
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