Nearly 5,000 farmers from all over the district under the banner of Dhenkanal Zilla Krushak Mahasangha came in a rally from Bazi Chouk and gheraoed the district Collector’s Office demanding immediate declaration of Dhenkanal district as fully drought affected.
Notably, extensive crop damage has taken place in the district due to inadequate rain during July and August last. The stress on the farmers is heavy. In addition to this there is no facility of proper irrigation in the district, which has accentuated the problem. Due to crop loss, already four farmers of the district have committed suicide till date.
The farmers also demanded that Government provide subsidized pump-sets, bore-well, deep-well, seed, manure and pesticide without much paper work, waive all outstanding crop loans and compensate per acre crop loss with Rs 25,000 due to elephant attack and Rs 5 lakh to kin of each deceased in elephant attack. The farmers presented a memorandum for the Chief Minister to Collector Roopa Roshan Sahoo.
The rally was led by Debashisha Hota. Among others Sarangdhar Pradhan, Ganghadhar Sethy, Prasant Panda, Sisir Satapathy, Rangadhar Sahu, Jaydev Behera, Nakul Rout, Damodar Rout, Ramachandra Hati, Subhandu Satapathy, Brajabandhu Sahu, Pitabas Rout, Jayant Hota , Bidyadhar Hota, Bhajaman Rout, Sanjiv Samal, Ullas Rout and Nakul Rout were present.