Coming down heavily on the ruling BJD for allegedly failing to manage the drought situation, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Prasad Harichandan on Monday demanded that the State Government publish a whitepaper in this regard.
“Not a single State Government official visited in grassroots level to assess the situation. The situation is much worse in nine districts in the State where the rainfall deficit is as high as 40 per cent. Farmers are the worst sufferer in this Government,” Harichandan told reporters here.
Harichandan said according to the IMD report the State has received about 110 mm less rainfall till August 10.
According to Harichandan, the State has received 570 mm rainfall as against the average rainfall of 680 during this period.
While Puri, Nayagarh and Khordha districts received 40 per cent less than the normal, there has been 39 per cent less rainfall in Balangir and 37 per cent less in Kandhamal and Koraput districts. Balangir, Koraput, Kandhamal, Khordha, Nayagarh and Puri have received below normal rainfall while 11 other districts have received less than the average rainfall.
“The Chief Minister had asked the Agriculture Department to submit a report within the seven days on the possible impact of deficient rainfall on agricultural activities last month. But nobody knows whether the the Department has submitted report or not,” mocked Harichandan.
He further alleged instead of taking measures to tackle drought the ruling BJP was busy in conducting Padayatra.