With incessant rains since Wednesday having damaged paddy crops in 15 districts, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in a videoconferencing here on Thursday held discussions with the district Collectors on the untimely rains and crop situation and directed them to regularly monitor the situation.
Patnaik advised the field workers of the Agriculture and Revenue Departments to remain in regular contact with farmers and advise them.
The Chief Minister also cancelled the weekend holidays of the officials for the purpose.
Patnaik directed the officials to assess the damages immediately after the rains. He also asked them to sincerely implement the package announced for the drought and pest-affected farmers and also take appropriate measures that they can start Rabi cultivation at the earliest. Besides, he advised the Collectors to ensure that farmers do not face any difficulties in paddy procurement and they minimum support price for their produce.
The Chief Minister asked the officials to regularly send information about the input subsidy disbursement to the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC). later, SRC Bishnupada Sethi said the farmers affected due to the rains would be compensated after the damage assessment is made. Sethi informed that any area which receives more than 124.4 mm of rainfall would be termed as a natural calamity.