Orissa seeks Rs 844 cr from Centre for drought-hit

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Bhubaneswar: Disturbed over farmer suicides, Orissa government on Tuesday declared 15 of the 30 districts in the state drought affected and has sought Rs 843.965 crore from the National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF) to deal with the drought situation in the state.

The state revenue and disaster management minister, Surya Narayan Patro, said the state has submitted a memorandum with the Union agriculture ministry and also with the home ministry seeking Rs 118.125 crore as gratuitous relief, Rs 44.55 crore for fodder and drinking water for domestic animals, Rs 150 crore for agriculture input subsidy, and Rs 341.99 crore for compensation to the farmers who have lost their Kharif crop.

Besides, Rs 140 crore is required for drinking water supply, Rs 40 crore for renovation of the lift irrigation points so as to supply water to Rabi crops, and Rs 9.30 crore to provide treatment to the domestic animals and poultry.

Patro said that drought has been declared in 3,264 villages and in 41 wards of nine urban areas.

He said the state government has declared a drought on the basis of the crop cutting report of autumn paddy.

According to him, the crop loss in these villages has been over 50%.

The minister said affected farmers in the drought affected areas would be provided compensation at the rate of Rs 2000 per hectare of non-irrigated and Rs 4000 per hectare of irrigated land as per the calamity relief fund norms.