Odisha district collectors to review crop situation every week

With Odisha registering about 56 per cent less rain than usual during May-June this year, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today asked the district collectors to review the crop situation in their respective areas on a weekly basis to avoid the possible drought.
Patnaik issued this direction while taking stock of the situation created due to deficient rainfall during the initial period of the monsoon.
"Apart from Nabarangpur, Balasore and Koraput, 27 other districts have received rainfall less by 56 per cent," a release issued by the chief minister's office said.
The Chief Minister in a video conferencing with district collectors directed the authorities to prepare emergency plan to face the possible worst situatuation.

However, the release said that met office has predicted that the state will receive five per cent more rain water than the normal in the month of July.
"We are optimistic that the situation will change once there is good rainfall in the month of July and August," Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy told reporters after the meeting.

Patnaik also asked three line departments like agriculture, cooperation and panchayati raj to get ready and prepare emergency plan to face the situation while water resources department had been directed to undertake water management in reservoirs keeping in view the deficient rainfall this nmonsoon.

Water resources department has also been told to reserve required water for drinking and irrigation purpose, Patnaik said, adding that lift irrigation points need to be in working condition and set up new points wherever required.
Patnaik asked collectors to continue with provision of drinking water through tankers, wherever the situation demanded.
The Panchayati Raj department has been asked to prepare plans in advance for undertaking labour intensive programmes especially in southern and western Odisha.
"It was decided at the meeting to provide additional 50 days work under MGNREGS in Bolangir and Nuapada districts," an official said.
While stressing on the availability of loans to farmers at the time of need, the Chief Minister directed officials to ensure farmers access loan facilities by July 31.

The meeting also deliberated on provision of immediate fresh loans to farmers in event of crop damage and converting short-term loans to medium term loans, wherever the need arose.