DROUGHT: 3.15L HA IN 70 BLOCKS OF 15 DISTS HIT,CM ANNOUNCES DROUGHT RELIEF PACKAGE Thursday, 26 October 2017 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

DROUGHT: 3.15L HA IN 70 BLOCKS OF 15 DISTS HIT

Wednesday, 25 October 2017 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

    

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More than 3.15 lakh hectares of land in 70 blocks of 15 districts across the State are affected by drought. Of the 15 districts, Balangir, Bargarh, Dhenkanal, Boudh and Nuapada are the worst-affected with Balangir in  top of  the list with 14 blocks followed by Bargarh with 10 blocks, said  Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management Maheswar Mohanty here on Tuesday.

“This was estimated by a field survey. The concerned line departments’ officials will again meet on October 27, following which a final report will be submitted to the Chief Minister. Subsequently, a drought assistance package for the affected districts will be announced,” the Minister said.

Mohanty further said the Government would declare the drought package earlier than previous years. “Without waiting for the crop cutting report, the State Government will announce assistance much earlier on the basis filed by the survey,” he added.

Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi said the Government has received drought reports from the district Collectors and is examining the reports, following which it would declare the drought-hit areas by October 30.

“The reports are being analysed. Nothing has been finalised yet. The deadline for announcing drought-affected areas is October 30,” Sethi stated.

Earlier, a team of representatives led by the SRC had visited Nuapada and Balangir districts to review the drought situation resulting in massive crop damage.

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CM ANNOUNCES DROUGHT RELIEF PACKAGE

Thursday, 26 October 2017 | PNS | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

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Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a drought assistance package at the State Secretariat here on Wednesday for the farmers facing crop loss of 33 per cent and above during the current Kharif season in 15 districts.

“Agriculture input subsidy will be provided to the small and marginal farmers who have sustained crop loss of 33 per cent and above at Rs 6,800 per hectares of land in rain-fed or non-irrigated areas and Rs 13,500 per hectares of land in areas under assured irrigation,” Patnaik said.

Agriculture input subsidy would also be provided to farmers other than small and marginal farmers at the same rates subject to a ceiling of two hectares per farmer. The assistance would be provided to the actual cultivators, he said.

Farmers affected by drought in Kharif would be provided fresh finance for Rabi cultivation, which has commenced from October 1, the Chief Minister said.

He further said, “Short-term Kharif loans advanced in the affected areas during Kharif having crop loss of 33 per cent and above shall be converted into medium-term (conversion) loans.”

Patnaik also directed the district administrations to keep an eye on moneylenders causing financial hardship to the farmers and directed the police to initiate stringent action against such elements under the Odisha Money Lenders Act and various Sections of the CrPC.

“The SPs will have the responsibility to proactively deal with this. The DIGs will review the matter,” he said.

“Five thousand pump sets would be provided with 50 per cent subsidy limited to Rs 15, 000 to the farmers. Besides, availability of pump sets in different Agro Service Centres shall be published to enable the farmer to hire the same to save their standing crops,” the CM said.

The Odisha Lift Irrigation Corporation (OLIC) would take immediate steps to repair the lift irrigation points (LI Points) in all the affected villages on a priority basis. Steps would be taken to operate all LI Points during Rabi season. A total of 1.25 lakh pulse mini kits, 0.5 lakh oilseed minikits and 0.25 lakh vegetable minikits will be supplied to the farmers for the Rabi programme in the affected villages,” he said.

MGNREGA works would be undertaken by the Panchayati Raj Department to establish water harvesting structures or de-silting of field channels and diversion weirs, ‘’Our Government will provide 50 days of additional work in drought hit areas,’’ Patnaik said.

Landless, marginal and small farmers in the drought-affected GPs of 70 blocks would be provided livelihood support in terms of backyard poultry, he informed.

 “Fifty per cent remission in respect of cess on land revenue will be given to the farmers where the crop loss is 33 per cent or more,” the Chief Minister added.