Bhubaneswar: The state Congress Saturday slammed the BJD government accusing it of having failed to provide basic irrigation facility to the farmers even as there were reports of drought-like situation in some places of the state.
The BJD, however, claimed that irrigation target had almost been achieved. “Every year the state government is planning and implementing many projects for irrigating farm land and spending thousands of crores. But farmers are committing suicide because of crop failure, as there is no proper irrigation facility for them,” state Congress president Niranjan Patnaik said.
“Many rivers are flowing through our state. But because of ill management of the river water system, people of Odisha are not getting any benefit. Chhattisgarh government has constructed a number of barrages and dams over Mahanadi and due to this Odisha is going to be a dry state in near future,” he said.
Instead of doing anything good for the people, Biju Janata Dal has become Biju Yojana Dal by announcing scheme after scheme, the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief alleged.
“Why farmers of the state are not getting plenty of water for their agricultural need? In this case if drought-like situation resurfaces, then is the state government prepared to face it?” he asked.
He said the state government had ignored the farm sector and welcomed industries and mining companies to the state without proper checks and balances in place.
Reacting to the allegations, BJD spokesperson Samir Das said, “The BJD government is always giving utmost priority to agriculture sector and farmers and that is why the state has received Krishi Karman award from the Centre four times for producing record amount of paddy.”
Besides, the income of farmers has doubled in the past 10 years in the state and the state government is taking all necessary steps to enhance it further, he said.
“As for irrigation facilities, the BJD government has almost achieved its target to irrigate 10 lakh hectares of land. As farmer suicide is a pan India phenomenon, our CM has requested the Centre to come up with a policy to stop it,” Das added.
Situation under watch, says govt
Bhubaneswar: Drought-like situation is looming large in 19 blocks as these have experienced severe deficit rainfall during this monsoon season even as the state government said it is monitoring the situation.
According to a report of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), the cumulative average rainfall of the state from June 1 till August 4 worked out to a surplus of 3.0 per cent over the long term average rainfall. As many 19 blocks have witnessed severe deficit rainfall of 39 per cent to 59 per cent, it said.
This situation has damaged the paddy crops in many areas. Even, in some places, the paddy seed has not grown yet.
Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy said, “I am reviewing the situation. We will supply short term paddy seeds to the farmers, whose crops have been affected due to heavy rainfall and deficit rainfall. If that will not yield any result, we will supply seeds meant for Rabi crops.” Similarly Agriculture secretary Sourav Garg said the government is monitoring the situation and it will intervene in the matter, whenever required.
