Expressing grave concern over the plight of the farmers and the agrarian distress in the State, the Congress on Saturday warned of taking to streets if any new cases of farmer suicide are reported this year.
PCC president Niranjan Patnaik said during 2016 October, the SRC submitted a report to the State Government mentioning that 41 farmers have committed suicide, though the number is far more.
“This is matter of regret and the BJD instead of doing anything good for people of Odisha has become Biju Yojana Dal by announcing schemes after schemes,” said Patnaik.
He said that during 2000-2013, around 3,600 farmers have committed suicide. Most of them are from Balangir, Nuapada, Deograh, Baleswar and Angul districts. Besides by 2016 February, 30,000 from Balangir, Nuapada and Kalahandi districts migrated to neighbouring States to work in brick kilns. On the other hand, the Government report says that Rs 7,727 crore was spent during 2016-17 for irrigation projects.
It was hiked to Rs 9,216 crore in 2017-18 and in 2018-19 the projected expenditure is Rs 10,196 crore. But what is the result of the huge spending, the PCC chief asked.
Patnaik also lamented over overexploitation of water by industries and mining companies at the cost of the people and the ineffectiveness of a number of deep bore wells dug in different parts.