Post News Network
Baripada, Dec 19: Even as farmer suicides refuse to subside across the state due to alleged crop loss and debt burden, over 40,000 farmers in Kaptipada and Gopabandhunagar blocks in Mayurbhanj district have reportedly been struck off the list of affected farmers prepared by the district administration.
It is alleged that many farmers who really suffered crop damage due to deficit rainfall have not been included in the list, even though Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during his visit October 29 had declared the district drought-hit, apart from announcing a special package. The CM had also announced waiver of water tax for farmers in the district.
Immediately after the announcement, the administration hurriedly conducted a survey of crop damage and came out with a preliminary report, in which two blocks like Kaptipada and Gopabandhunagar were excluded while 24 other blocks were stated to be drought-hit. According to the preliminary report, 1,19,423 hectares of farmlands in 3,316 villages under 334 gram panchayats were earmarked as drought hit.
However, farmers termed the preliminary report as completely erroneous. A report in this regard had come out in Oriya daily Dharitri November 14. Besides, various political outfits and farmers’ organisations strongly opposed the report and demanded proper surveys.
Under pressure from outfits, the administration had prepared another report in which 13 villages of Kaptipada and 29 villages of Gopabandhunagar block were included as drought-hit, farmers said.
The latest report is also being opposed by farmers who are now deprived of government assistance. Over 40,000 farmers of 134 villages under Kaptipada and 103 villages under Gopabandhunagar block have reportedly been left out in the report. Contacted, Pramod Kumar Mishra, district agriculture officer, said farmers will receive government assistance for crop damage on the basis of the administration’s report.
“The report that we have received says 42 villages under these two blocks were declared drought-hit,” he added.
