The Congress Krushak Cell on Friday took on CM Naveen Patnaik for allegedly giving false assurance on irrigation to the farmers and having failed to take steps to tackle the drought situation facing the State. After taking stock of the acute drought in some western Odisha districts from August 24 to 30, Krushak Cell State president Amiya Kumar Pattanayak said farmers were in dire straits due to deficient rains.He alleged that the announcement of 35% irrigation to all blocks by the Government is a mere propaganda. In fact, thousands of Lift Irrigation Points are lying defunct. Crores have been bungled in the name of Pani Panchayat and irrigation.
He demanded that the Government form a coordination committee taking agriculture officials and experts for a study of the drought situation and declaring the areas facing acute deficit rain as drought-hit. He warned of an agitation if remedial measures were not taken in a week.