Bhubaneswar: Revenue Minister Maheswar Mohanty today informed that 3.15 lakh hectares land in 70 blocks of 15 districts across the Odisha are affected by drought.
Of the 15 districts, Bolangir, Bargarh, Dhenkanal, Boudh and Nuapada are most affected with Bolangir topping the list with 14 blocks followed by Bargarh with 10 blocks, the Minister informed.
"This has been estimated based on a field survey. The concerned departments will again meet on October 27 following which a final report will be given to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Subsequently, a drought assistance package for the affected districts will be announced,” Mohanty said.
Mohanty further said the state government will declare the drought package much earlier as compared to previous years. “Without waiting for the crop cutting report, the state government will announce assistance much earlier on the basis filed survey,” he added.
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi said the state government has received drought reports from the district Collectors and is examining the reports following which it will declare the drought-hit areas by October 30.
“The reports are being processed and examined. Nothing has been finalized yet. The deadline for announcing drought-affected areas is October 30," Sethi stated.
Earlier this month, a team of representatives led by the SRC had visited Nuapada and Bolangir to review the drought situation.
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