New Delhi: The Environment ministry has said that over 1.5 lakh people will be affected due to construction of the Polavaram multi-purpose project in Andhra Pradesh.

"A total of 1,77,275 persons will be affected in Andhra Pradesh as a result of construction of the project," Environment and Forest minister Jayanthi Natarajan said in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

Andhra Pradesh heaved a sigh of relief as ‘Lehar’, which was initially categorised as a severe cyclonic storm, petered out into a deep depression today and made landfall near Machilipatnam in the e

Residents now worried about cyclone Lehar

Recent cyclones Phailin and Helen have severely hit the earnings of coconut growers in coastal districts like Srikakulam, East and West Godavari and Krishna. The two cyclones destroyed more than 110,000 coconut trees, resulting in an estimated loss of Rs 3.30 crore, according to government officials. Besides, crowns of thousands of coconut trees were damaged by heavy winds and now it would take more than a year for them to reach normal production. On average, a tree gives 300 nuts per year.

It is expected to make landfall between Kalingapatnam and Masula on Nov. 28.

60 % of the damaged crop is only in West Godavari district.

Vijayawada: Cyclone Helen, the second major storm to hit Andhra coast in four weeks since Phailin, made landfall on the coast south of Machilipatnam around 1.30pm on Friday, leaving an aftermath of

Trees were uprooted disrupting traffic, communication and electricity towers were damaged as strong gales with speed reaching 100-110 kmph caused havoc in the coastal districts

Heavy loss feared in Krishna, Guntur and West Godavari districts

Heavy to very heavy rain may lash three coastal districts – Guntur, Krishna and West Godavari – as tropical cyclonic storm, Helen, intensified into a severe cyclone on Thursday.

The cyclone is likely to hit southern Andhra coast close to Machilipatnam in Krishna District this afternoon

Andhra Pradesh administration is fully geared up to face the severe cyclonic storm Helen over west- central Bay of Bengal which is likely to hit southern Andhra coast close to Machilipatnam in Krishna District this afternoon.