Central team to visit Odisha to assess drought situation

NEW DELHI: A team comprising officials from ICAR and other government departments will soon visit Odisha to take stock of the drought situation and suggest remedial measures, Ministry of Agriculture today said.

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh has given orders to constitute a central team comprising officers of his ministry and a representative of Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, which is under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

"Central team headed by R P Mallick, Additional Commissioner, and state officials will shortly visit Odisha for assessment of drought situation and to suggest remedial measures," an official statement said.

Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had requested the agriculture minister to depute a central team for a firsthand view of the prevailing drought situation in different parts of Odisha, it said.

Pradhan also requested that the team suggest remedial measures and strategies for combating agrarian and rural distress, the statement added.

He highlighted that eight districts -- Dhenkanal, Khurda, Bolangir, Boudh, Bargarh, Subarnapur, Kandhamal and Kenosha-- have received less than normal rainfall.

Besides, agricultural activities in 103 blocks in 23 districts have been adversely affected.