Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Saturday said that proper compensation will be provided to the farmers who have suffered crop damage due to cyclone Dana as per the new relief guidelines.
Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo, who is holding the Agriculture portfolio, held a post-cyclone review meeting as part of the exercise to assess the damage caused to the standing crops
Singh Deo informed that the compensation amount will be transferred directly to the bank accounts of eligible farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
“We have instructed district level officials to send the assessment reports as per the new guidelines set by the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC). Accordingly, compensation will be disbursed to the affected farmers’ account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT),” the Deputy CM said.
“We have also urged the people to refrain from providing false and fabricated information to get undue advantage. If anyone is found to have given misleading information, action will be taken,” he added.
As per preliminary reports, 79,671 hectares of agricultural land across the state have been impacted by the cyclone. The most affected areas are Kendrapada, Jajpur, Balasore, and Bhadrak districts, with a total damage of 199,177 acres.
In Kendrapada, 23,000 hectares have been damaged, particularly in Rajkanika, Mahakalpara, and Aul.
Around 24,115 hectares of land have suffered crop damage in Basudebpur, Chandbali, Bhandari Pokhari, and Dhamanagar of Bhadrak district while Balasore witnessed crop damage of 3,140 hectares. Similarly, Mayurbhanj reported damage to 2,381 hectares of land.
Jajpur and Jagatsinghpur witnessed damage to 2,709 hectares and 2,498 hectares respectively.
Similarly, 3,140 hectare of land has been affected in Balasore district, 2,381 hectare in Mayurbhanj district, 2,709 hectare in Jajpur district and 2,498 hectare in Jagatsinghpur district.
After reviewing the report, the state government has decided to provide compensation to farmers for their crop loss due to the cyclone.
As per the decision, the farmers will receive Rs 4200 for damage to half hectare of agricultural land. The minimum amount of Rs 1,000 will be given for minimal loss, Principal Secretary in Agriculture department, Arabinda Padhee, said after the meeting.
The farmers will get Rs 17,000 for crop loss in irrigated land, whereas the marginal farmers will be paid a minimum of Rs 2,000 for crop loss in irrigated land. The farmers will get Rs 22,500 per hectare and a minimum of Rs 2,500 for agro forest/plantation crop loss.
The complete estimate will be made in collaboration with Revenue and Agriculture officials.