Odisha govt declares drought in 19 districts|

The Odisha government on Thursday declared droughts of moderate and severe nature in 19 districts of the state.

The calamity covers a total crop area of 2.33 lakh hectares covering 5,533 villages of 66 blocks in nine districts namely - Nabarangpur, Bargarh, Balangir, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Nuapara, Sambalpur and Sundergarh.

The state drought monitoring cell, under the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority, while studying the different parameters estimated rainfall deviation of 39-59 per cent in five blocks -- Muribahal, Loisinga and Belapada of Bolangir district and Sundargarh Sadar and Tangarapalli of Sundargarh district.

Additional 30 blocks in 12 districts experienced deficit rainfall (between 19 per cent and 39 per cent), while 100 blocks in 19 districts have experienced a dry spell of three weeks and more.

Accordingly, the Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Department, and the collectors were requested for joint verification of the crop condition in the field.

As per the report, the nine districts sustained a crop loss of up to 33 per cent due to moisture stress.