Bhubaneswar, Oct 24: The state government Tuesday admitted that crops on approximately 3.15 lakh hectares has been damaged, while 70 blocks in 15 districts have been affected by drought this year.
Statistics released by the State Relief Commissioner’s (SRC) office reveals that Bolangir, with a maximum 14 blocks and 1.6 lakh hectares drought-hit areas, is the worst affected district followed by Bargarh, with 88,770 hectares in 10 blocks, Nuapada, with 61,448 hectares in five blocks, and Dhenkanal with 24,504 hectares in eight blocks.
The other 11 districts that have been partly affected by drought are Angul, Boudh, Deogarh, Jajpur, Kalanahdi, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Khurda, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Sambalpur and Sonepur. The total number GPs affected by drought in all these districts stands at 1,125.
“The damage has been estimated by the district administrations though field survey. We have received these reports today and all departments related to agriculture operations will meet October 27 to prepare a final report to be submitted before the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Accordingly, the state government will announce a drought assistance package, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Maheswar Mohanty said.
SRC Bishnupada Sethi said the state government is examining the drought reports received from the district collectors and after examining them it will declare the areas hit by drought by October 30.
Earlier this year, the state government decided that it wouldn’t depend on the crop cutting report from district administrations to declare drought packages.
Sources said whether or not the government would seek fund from the NDRF for drought be decided at the meeting after examining of the reports received from the district collectors. (Post News Network)