BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday asked all the district collectors to review the crop situation in their respective areas on a weekly basis in view of the emergency situation following scanty rainfall over most parts of the State.
While reviewing the crop situation of the districts with the collectors through video conferencing at the secretariat, the Chief Minister asked them to prepare a contingency plan within a week to meet the eventuality.
He also stressed on the provision of safe drinking water, lift irrigation, care of livestock, extension of agricultural loans to the farmers and undertaking labour intensive programmes in areas facing deficient rainfall.
All the districts barring Nabarangpur, Balasore and Koraput have received 56 per cent less rainfall than normal.
Naveen directed the collectors to extend the time-limit for supply of drinking water through tankers wherever the situation demanded.
The Chief Minister asked the Panchayati Raj department to prepare plans in advance for undertaking labour- intensive programmes, especially in southern and western Odisha.
It was decided at the meeting to provide additional 50 days work under MGNREGS in Balangir and Nuapada districts. Large scale migration are reported from these two districts.
The Water Resources department was asked to draw up plans for maintaining abundant water in the reservoirs for irrigation and drinking purposes. While asking the department to set up new lift irrigation points wherever necessary, the Energy department was asked to ensure power supply to all the existing lift irrigation points.
While stressing on the availability of loans to farmers at the time of need, the Chief Minister directed the officials to ensure that farmers are extended credit for kharif crops by July 31.
In the event of crop damage, fresh loans should be provided to the affected farmers immediately by converting short-term loans to medium-term loans, whenever the need arose.
The India Metrological Department (IMD), which had predicted deficient rainfall during the current monsoon, told the meeting that there would be some improvement in the situation in July as the State is likely to receive 5 per cent more rainfall than normal.
The meeting was attended by Excise and Cooperation Minister Damodar Rout, Agriculture Minister Pradip Maharathy, Revenue Minister Bijayshree Routray, the Chief Secretary, the Development Commissioner and secretaries of the departments concerned.