Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has formulated an action plan to tackle drought-like situation in 27 districts.
The plan was formulated at a high-level meeting presided over by Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra via video conferencing on Monday.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Suresh Kumar Vashishth informed that Odisha has recorded 50 per cent less rainfall in August compared to August last year.
Besides, the state has received 28.8 per cent less cumulative rainfall so far, he added.
Vashishth said moisture has reduced in arable land in 30 blocks of 15 districts due to deficit rainfall. These include four blocks in Angul, Balangir (2), Bhadrak (1), Boudh (2), Dhenkanal (4), Ganjam (1), Gajapati (1), Jajpur (2), Keonjhar (3), Rayagada (5), Sambalpur (1), Jharsuguda (1), Nabarangpur (1) and Nayagarh (1).
In this context, the chief secretary has directed the Water Resources Department to continue releasing canal water for irrigation, expedite the repair of canal embankments to ensure that the water reaches the last point and continue releasing water in all canals on a rotation basis.
Mohapatra has also directed the power distribution companies (discoms) to ensure uninterrupted supply to all lift irrigation and bore well points. “The chief secretary has also directed Pani Panchayats to have regular meetings with the Discoms in this regard,” Vashishth added.
In view of the extensive damage to crops in some districts, the chief secretary asked the district collectors to prepare a contingency plan for alternative crops in each block and panchayat.
The chief secretary has stressed on giving priority to non-paddy crops in the blocks that have received deficit rainfall and directed the Odisha State Seeds Corporation Limited to supply the required number of seeds immediately.
Besides, the chief secretary has directed the department concerned to ensure the livelihoods of farmers who have sustained huge losses by providing them with more labour intensive workdays through different welfare schemes under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).
While the state government has created 10 lakh workdays till August this year, the chief secretary has directed the department concerned to create another 20 lakh workdays in the rain-deficit districts.
Also Read: Deficit Rainfall Triggers Drought Fears In 27 Odisha Districts
