Government gears up to tackle drought

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Monday geared up its machinery to tackle drought-like situation in more than 30 blocks in eight districts. Scanty rainfall has affected kharif crop in some pockets of 15 districts in the State while the situation is alarming in the 30 blocks, according to preliminary reports submitted by the district collectors to the Government. Reviewing the drought situation and water scarcity, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik focused on three points. He directed the officials to take steps to save the standing kharif crops, reviewed the administration’s preparation for rabi crop and underscored the need for restoration of all defunct lift irrigation (LI) points to deal with the situation, said Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Surya Narayan Patro. Patro said the Chief Minister had directed the officials to ensure that subsidised diesel pumps should reach the farmers in time.  The severely affected districts are Nuapada, Kalahandi, Balangir, Boudh, Angul, Nayagarh, part of Ganjam and Banki sub-division of Cuttack district. A team from Orissa Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) which visited seven districts to assess the situation has alleged that there had been massive crop damage and the State is facing a severe drought. The team alleged that defunct LI points were yet to be repaired despite the worsening situation. He said the district collectors had been asked to send detailed reports on the drought situation and drinking water scarcity by August 31. Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik and senior officials attended the meeting.