Bhubaneswar: In view of the rainfall warning by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Odisha government on Tuesday directed the Collectors to take necessary measures to protect the harvested paddy in their respective districts.
In a letter, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradip Jena directed the Collectors to advise the farmers to shift their harvested paddy to safe places and keep it properly stacked under proper cover to avoid any loss or damage. He also directed them to take necessary measures to protect paddy at the procurement centres (mandis).
According to the IMD forecast, under the influence of a cyclonic circulation lying over North Odisha and the neighbourhood, rainfall activity will begin in the state with light to moderate rain or thundershower at one or two places over the districts of Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Mayurbhanj, Boudh, Sonepur and Nuapada on January 2, thunderstorm with lightning and hail at one or two places over the districts of Odisha on January 3, thunderstorm with lightning and hail at one or two places over the districts of coastal Odisha, Mayurbhanj, Angul, Dhenknal, Keonjhar, Gajapati, Rayagada, Nayagarh and Kandhamal on January 4 and light to moderate rain or thundershower at one or two places over the districts of Bhadrak, Balasore, Khurda, Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, Ganjam, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Kalahandi and Nabarangpur on January 5.
