Draw up rabi plan: CM

BHUBANESWAR: With the spectre of a failed monsoon haunting the State, the Government has switched to damage-control mode. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday directed the Revenue Department to prepare a contingency plan for rabi cultivation as kharif crops have been affected due to inadequate rainfall this monsoon.  The Chief Minister reviewed the drought situation and crop damage in districts at a high-level meeting here following submission of reports from the districts. Suicide by farmers has continued in the State from 2009 because of crop loss due to inadequate and untimely rainfall. This year also several cases of suicide by farmers have been reported from western Orissa districts where the situation is more acute.  Official sources admitted that farming activities started late during the year because of irregular rains. The situation in Balangir, Nuapada, Angul and Kalahandi is alarming though in other districts it is no better. The situation may lead to drought in 18 districts.  If there is good rainfall in all the districts during the next two days as predicted by the weatherman, the situation can improve. Naveen, however, asked the officials to take all precautionary measures to deal with drought and crop loss. He said interest of farmers should be protected at all costs.   The officials have been asked to store sufficient seeds for the farmers. Besides, the lift irrigation points should also be repaired and kept in good condition, he said.  “We are hopeful that situation will improve in Angul, Kalahandi, Balangir and Nuapada districts due to the low pressure. These districts have recorded minus 50 per cent rainfall,” Revenue Minister Surjya Narayan Patro said after the meeting.  Admitting that scanty rainfall affected agricultural activities in the four districts, the Minister said 41 blocks out of total 314 blocks received low rainfall during the monsoon.  The Opposition political parties have threatened Statewide agitation over State Government’s alleged neglect of the farmers facing a drought situation. Besides, they have also alleged delay and irregularities in the supply of seeds putting the farmers in further trouble.  Among others, Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik, Development Commissioner RN Senapati and senior officials attended the meeting.