Bhubaneswar: Expecting prevalence of a drought-like situation in 30 blocks, the state government Saturday sought reports from collectors on status of various crops being harvested in the districts.
“Due to deficit rainfall, drought-like situation cannot be ruled out in 30 blocks of 14 districts. We hope that about 40,000 hectares of crop might be affected due to this. We have sought crop status report from the collectors,” revenue and disaster management minister Maheswar Mohanty told reporters after holding a review meeting here Saturday.
Agriculture minister Damodar Rout and food supplies and consumer welfare minister Surya Narayan Patro were also present.
However, a real picture will emerge only after the collectors submit the panchayat-wise report.
The collectors have been asked to submit panchayat-wise reports on the present condition of crops within a week, Mohanty said, adding, “We will again meet October 10 to discuss future course of action.”
The state government is closely monitoring the situation while alternative arrangements are being made by the agriculture department to provide the farmers with seeds and fertilizers and other requirements, he said.
The water resources department officials were asked to look after the arrangements to supply water to agricultural lands through various canals while defunct lift irrigation points will be replaced with new ones. The energy department officials have been instructed to take care of uninterrupted power supply to the lift irrigation points. PNN
