Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday urged the Central Government to send a team to assess firsthand view of the prevailing drought situation in different parts of the State.
In a letter to Union Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh, Pradhan said the team should also suggest remedial measures and strategies for combating agrarian and rural distress.
He mentioned in the letter that agricultural activities in Odisha were largely rain-fed and primarily dependent on monsoon for sustenance. Odisha received deficient rainfall on account of weak monsoon which has also adversely affected agricultural activities and related livelihood dependent thereon, he added.
Pradhan said 22 districts in Odisha received normal rainfall, whereas eight other districts, Dhenkanal, Khordha, Balangir, Boudh, Bargarh, Subarnapur, Kandhamal and Keonjhar, received deficient rainfall leading to drought-like situation there.
“Additionally, agricultural activities in 103 blocks in 23 districts have been adversely affected,” said Pradhan.