Odisha Pradesh Congress Campaign Committee (OPCCC) chairperson Bijay Kumar Patnaik on Thursday claimed that around 15,000 farmers have committed suicide in Odisha since 2000 due to crop losses and debt burden. He blamed the BJD Government for “pushing” the peasants to the penury.
Patnaik had Tuesday paid a visit to family members of Nityananda Parida, a farmer who on October 15 ended his life by consuming poison following crop loss. The 50-year-old Nityananda belonged to Bajabati village in Jajpur district. As per his own suicide note, he ended his life because of crop loss caused due to black stone mining near his farmland.
“Although indiscriminate mining activities affecting agriculture are going on in Jajpur district, the administration has closed its eyes to it. The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPC) hasn’t also taken any action against the culprits. If such blatant illegal black stone mining by crusher units continues, the agricultural lands will lose their fertility and many more unpleasant things will happen,” warned Patnaik.
He handed over a cheque of Rs 10,000 to the bereaved family members of Nityananda.
OPCC farmers’ cell president Amiya Pattanaik said, “Nobody tells a lie before his death. Nityananda has mentioned the reason of his suicide. He has clearly written that the government allowed black stone mining lease near his paddy farm, for which he suffered crop losses.”
In his suicide not, Nityananda mentioned that although he lodged a complaint about the running of an illegal crusher unit near his paddy field, no one from the government responded.