114 Odisha blocks get scanty rainfall

With 114 of Odisha's 314 blocks getting scanty rainfall this monsoon, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today asked district collectors across the state to submit their report on deficient rain and crop loss by October 15.
Patnaik issued the instruction to district authorities while chairing a high level meeting on prevailing situation created due to less rainfall.
He also asked officials to energise and repair all the lift irrigation points in deficient rainfall areas so that the standing crops could be saved.
The chief minister directed officials to provide sufficient jobs under MGNREGA to the people living in rain deficit areas. He also asked officials of water resources department to properly manage irrigation by supplying water in different canals.

As per a report of the state agriculture department while the average rainfall in Odisha is 1144.3 mm by September end only 1028.3 mm rainfall has been recorded till date this year. The rainfall deficit was 10.1 per cent less than normal between June and September.
While only one of the 30 districts of Odisha has received rainfall more than the normal rainfall, 20 others have got normal rainfall and nine districts got rainfall less than the normal downpour, official sources said.
Though the state govenrment had set a target to undertake cultivation in 61.525 lakh hectare during the kharif season, agricultural activities have been reported from 59.809 hectare of land by September end, they said.