Odishatv Bureau
Bhubaneswar: The state government on Saturday announced a package for farmers who sustained crop loss due to eratic monsoon leading to a drought-like situation in 99 of the state`s 314 blocks, official sources said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who chaired a high level meeting, said that Rs 65 crore would be spent on repair of 1,000 lift irrigation projects before December 15 to ensure survival of the standing crop.

The 99 blocks spread over 16 districts were identified based on the reports of district collectors, the sources said.

The government also decided to provide Rs 5 lakh to each affected block for construction of cross-bundhs for irrigation, an official said.

The government would provide 30,000 disel pumpsets at subsidised rates among farmers in the affected areas.

"The government will decide on further assistance for farmers according to the central guidelines after getting actual harvest report," he said.

The 99 blocks were located in the districts of Angul, Bargarh, Bhadrak, Bolangir, Boudh, Cuttack, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Sonepur, Deogarh and Ganjam.

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