Bhubaneswar: With IMD’s prediction of rains from December 7, the state government has asked collectors to take all necessary steps for protection of standing and harvested crops.
Revenue and Disaster Management minister Maheswar Mohanty Monday held a videoconference with the collectors in this regard and asked them to advise the farmers to shift their harvested paddy to safe places and keep them properly stacked under suitable cover so as to avoid any damage.
Mohanty also instructed the collectors to complete the process of distribution of input subsidy to farmers affected due to drought, pest attacks and subsequent unseasonal rains by December 15.
According to a bulletin of India Meteorological Department (IMD), the well marked low pressure area now lies over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Andaman Sea. It is very likely to develop into a depression over southeast Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours and further intensify into a deep depression in the next 48 hours. The depression may move west-northwestwards towards north Tamil Nadu – south Andhra Pradesh coasts during the next three days, the Met said.
Normal to moderate rainfall will occur in Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam districts December 7, while heavy rainfall is likely in the south and coastal districts in the next two days.
PNN