Aggrieved over Jharsuguda district not figuring in the list of drought- hit areas of the Government, Brajrajnagar BJP MlA Radharani Panda along with local farmers held an indefinite fast at the Collectorate office here on Monday. Notably, the State Government has announced a list of 129 blocks in 21 districts as drought affected. But, the Jharsuguda district has not figured in the list despite scanty and irregular rainfall leading to acute crisis with two young farmers having committed suicide as a result of loss of crop and inadequate compensation. This was a first in the industrial district, where the phenomenon of farmer suicide had not occurred earlier.
The farmers in the district are now demanding due compensation and have requested for loan waivers, but their demands have fallen on deaf ear. The prime demands of farmer include announcement of Jharsuguda district as drought affected, extension of irrigation facility to lakhanpur block at the earliest, repairing of lift irrigation points and connection of new lI points in the district. MlA Panda took out a procession of 3,000 farmers before the collectorate hurling slogans against the Chief Minister. This was followed by her holding a fast unto death stir along with 23 of farmers. Senior BJP leaders Raghunandan Panda, Arun Behera,Chakanan Sah, Biswanath Bhoi and District Yuva BJP Morcha president Bimalendu Bhol were present.