Orissa: 10,991 villages lost over 50% crop

As many as 10991 villages under 117 blocks in 17 districts of Orissa have been severely hit by drought with a crop loss of over 50 per cent in this year's kharif season.

Mayurbhanj district has been the worst hit where a total of 2442 villages under 18 blocks have reported a crop loss of more than 50 per cent. Next is Sundergarh district where 1656 villages under 17 blocks have suffered a crop loss of more than 50 per cent.

The other severely impacted districts are Angul (1740 villages), Sambalpur (1076 villages), Boudh (948 villages), and Keonjhar (747 villages).

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"In toto, 10991 villages under 117 blocks of 1636 gram panchayats in 17 districts have been declared as drought affected.

"The state government has intimated the matter to the Union ministry of agriculture as per paragraph 30 of the Orissa Relief Code.

"A detailed memorandum seeking Central assistance of Rs 1589.19 crore (Rs 15.89 billion) has been submitted to the government of India.

"Meanwhile, an inter-ministerial Central team led by S K G Rahate, joint secretary (agriculture) visited the areas of the eight most drought affected districts from November 22-26 and assessed the drought situation", S N Patra, minister for revenue and disaster management informed the state assembly.

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The minister pointed out that drought mitigation measures, as per the provisions of the Orissa Relief Code and norms of the Calamity Relief Fund, are being administered in the drought affected areas.

Besides, the state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced a 20-point package for the drought affected areas.

As per this package, agriculture input subsidy would be provided to small and marginal farmers who have sustained a crop loss of 50 per cent and above at the rate of Rs 2,000 per hectare in rainfed/non-irrigated ares and Rs 4,000 per hectare of land in areas under assured irrigation.

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Under the Jalanidhi scheme, 50000 private lift irrigation points will be installed by June 2011.

Moreover, 50 per cent subsidy, subject to a ceiling of Rs 15000 will be provided to the farmers for procuring plastic pipes for carrying water for irrigation.

In addition to this, 2000 check dams will be constructed by June 2011 and priority will be given to drought affected areas.

A subsidy of 50 per cent will be offered to be provided on purchase of pump sets up to 7.5 HP.