Submit drought status report by Oct 15: CM to collectors

Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday directed collectors of nine districts to submit report on the amount of rainfall and crop loss in their respective districts by October 15.

Chairing a high-level meeting on drought situation in the state, the chief minister ordered for a detailed survey at block and panchayat levels. “As many as 114 blocks of 11 districts have been affected by drought owing to poor rainfall. While the amount of average rainfall in the state is 1144.3 mm, only 1028.3 mm rainfall has been recorded so far. Less than 10.1 per cent rainfall was recorded between June and September,” revenue minister Maheswar Mohanty informed.

According to a report of the agriculture department, there has been no rainfall in 97 blocks for the last three weeks and 38 blocks of the state for the past four weeks. Similarly, two blocks have received no rain since last seven weeks and six blocks for the last six weeks.

Odapada block in Dhenkanal district and Hatadihi of Keonjhar district are the worst affected, the report added.