Orissa seeks Rs 844 crore relief from centre

BHUBANESWAR: Orissa government on Tuesday declared 3264 revenue villages and 41 notified area councils in 70 blocks of 15 districts as drought-hit and directed the collectors to immediately provide financial compensations to the affected farmers.

Announcing the decision in the state Assembly, revenue minister Suryanarayan Patra said the affected farmers – in accordance with the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF) norms - would get input subsidy of Rs 4000 and Rs 2000 for irrigated and non-irrigated land, respectively.

“Reports from district collectors and revenue divisional commissioners (RDCs) said that the Khariff crop has been seriously affected this year due to inadequate rain. The autumn paddy crop cutting reports sent to the Special Relief Commissioner by the RDCs also confirm crop loss to a great extent,” Mr Patra said.

He added that the state government had already sent a report to the union agriculture ministry with regard to drought situation and has asked for a total relief package of Rs 843.965 crore from the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF).

“The compensation package we have sought from the Centre – among others - includes a gratuitous relief of Rs 118.125 crore, Rs 44.55 crore for fodder and drinking water for domestic animals, Rs 150 crore for input subsidy, Rs 341.99 crore for crop loss, Rs 9.30 crore for protecting the cattle resources against possible outbreak of epidemics,” Mr Patra said.

The Opposition had been pressuring the ruling BJD to declare all the 30 districts in the state as drought-hit.

Nearly three dozen of debt-ridden farmers have committed suicide this year because of crop failure following sporadic rainfall and pest attack.