BERHAMPUR: Members of Rushikulya Ryot Mahasabha (RRM) on Thursday demanded a special compensation package for the farmers of flood-hit Ganjam district.In a memorandum submitted to Ganjam Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange, they said farmers in the district have been facing crop loss due to natural calamities since long and this year, cyclone Titli and subsequent floods have shattered their hopes of bumper harvest. All their rabi crops, including paddy, sugarcane, betel and vegetables have been damaged. So far, no crop loss assessment has been done, they alleged.
Describing the farming sector in the district as distressed, they said crops over one lakh hectares (ha) worth around `300 crore have been destroyed. They urged the administration to provide immediate compensation to the affected farmers and demanded repair of damaged LI points, reservoirs and MI projects on a war footing. While farmers spend more money in non-irrigated lands than irrigated, the State Government’s decision to provide compensation of `6,800 per acre for non-irrigated and `13,500 for irrigated land is disheartening, they said.
They demanded `25,000 per affected farmer, including sharecroppers, immediately.On the other hand, members of several farmers’ organisations, including Chasi Sangram Manch, Sri Baladeb Swamy Krushak Sangha, Langaleswar Krushak Sangha, Ghumusur Krushak Sangha and Budheswar Krushak Seva Sangha urged the Government to waive off crop loan of all farmers in the district.
Repair of street lights demanded
Residents of Aska town have demanded that the street lights damaged due to cyclone Titli be repaired soon. They alleged that though power supply has been restored in Aska, street lights in the town are yet to be repaired even after a fortnight of the calamity.In order to replace the street lights with new LED, Aska NAC had earlier entrusted a Bhubaneswar-based agency, but it failed to complete the task, they said.
Officials visit Ankuli
Ganjam officials, led by District Education Officer (DEO) Sanatan Panda, on Thursday visited several flood-hit villages in Ankuli and Buratal panchayats under Patrapur block to take stock of the damaged schools. The DEO also interacted with the villagers and assured them to repair the school buildings soon. Since there is a strong possibility of outbreak of epidemic, health officials are camping in the villages with adequate medicines.