Odisha gears up to protect crops amid rain forecast

Bhubaneswar: After the Meteorological department predicted that a well marked low pressure over Bay of Bengal is likely to hit Odisha coast in next two days triggering rain, the State government has geared up to protect standing crops of farmers who have already suffered due to pest menace, drought and unseasonal rain.

At an emergency meeting, Revenue Minister Maheswar Mohanty today directed the administration of 18 districts to remain alert in view of rain prediction and asked the Collectors make field visits to create awareness among farmers to safeguard their crops. All the Collectors have also been directed to disburse input subsidy by December 15, the Minister said.

"Except Malkangiri, crops in almost all districts have been affected by pest, drought and unseasonal rain. So, the Collectors have been asked to complete disbursal of input subsidy by December 15," Mohanty said.

Also Read: Cyclone alert: IMD predicts rain in Odisha from December 7

The regional meteorological centre director Sarat Sahu who attended the meeting said the intensity of rainfall will be very less on December 7. However, the rain could increase by December 8 and 9, he added.

As per IMD prediction the well marked low pressure area over Bay of Bengal is likely to turn into a cyclone or deep depression on December 7 near Machlipatnam of Andhra Pradesh. Under its impact, most southern districts of the State will experience low intensity rain. However, the quantum of rainfall is likely to rise in the following two days in interior and coastal pockets of the State.

https://youtu.be/Tp45izxuw64