Odisha drought situation grim: central team

BHUBANESWAR: A 10-member-central team, which assessed drought situation during its two days Odisha visit, on Saturday admitted that the drought situation in the state is gloomy having over 80 percent crop loss in various areas.

K S Srinivasan, joint secretary to the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation said extensive damage to crops, mainly paddy, has taken place in many areas in the state.

The central team led by Srinivasan discussed the drought situation with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi along with other officials of the state government here.

“We have seen that there was no sowing in some areas while some places have no grain. There was extensive damage to the crop,” said Srinivasan.

He said the team would submit its report within one week or two-week recommending compensation to the farmers.

Special Relief Commissioner Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra said the central team has admitted that the state has faced drought situation that proved the draught assessment report sent earlier to the centre is based on truth.

The state government has sought a total assistance of Rs 2199.066 crore from the Centre to mitigate the drought situation.

Earlier, it had submitted an interim memorandum seeking an assistance of Rs 1,687.561 crore. Recently, it has sought an additional assistance of Rs 511.507 crore from the Centre.