Michaung impact: Odisha farmers lock up tehsil office for compensation

Scores of farmers staged protests and locked up the tehsil office in Padampur of Bargarh district on Monday over compensation for their crops damaged under the impact of cyclone Michaung. 

As per reports, farmers of Padampur united under the Krushak Sangathan claimed that their crops were damaged by the Michaung cyclone in December 2023. The agitators alleged that the Revenue Department assessed the crop damage by conducting a survey while the affected farmers have not been paid the compensation so far.

Demanding compensation, the farmers staged a sit-in and then locked the tehsil office.

Lingaraj Pradhan, one of the agitating farmers said, "When we inquire about the status of our compensation, the officials tell us that documents have been sent to the top level. When we seek information about the documents at the collectorate, officials deny receiving any documents. They only make us run hither and thither, doing nothing.”

He added that the farmers had earlier submitted a memorandum to the ADM, the tehsildar and SDPO to settle the compensation matter as soon as possible.

“If they do not come out for a discussion with farmers and sort out the issue, we will continue our protest," he added.   

Tehsildar Bipin Kumar Pradhan said, "Revenue inspectors surveyed the crop damage after the cyclone. The survey report has been sent to the Collector. The government will decide on the compensation. We had received 1040 applications from farmers which were sent to the Agriculture Department.”