Hundreds of farmers of Khasbahal gram panchayat of Nuapada district led by Congress leader Adhiraj Panigrahi staged a demonstration on State Highway-16 on Tuesday at Dohelpada raising the issues of nonpayment of input subsidy and crop insurance money, payment of NREGS wages before Nuakhai and ensuring irrigation facility of the lower Indra Irrigation Project (lIIP).
“Khasbahal panchayat has been worst-affected by drought this year. We have not yet been paid the input subsidy and insurance for last year’s crop loss. Our loan burden has increased. Failure of crop this year will have devastating impact on our lives,” said the farmers.
Farmers of this panchayat have been demanding extension of the lIIP irrigation canal to the villages since long.
“The canal should be extended to Khasbahal by construction of an aqueduct in river Sundar, which is possible, but the Government is not taking interest.
Farmers of Nuapada district have suffered much due to displacement, but 70 per cent of water is being provided to Balangir district, which is quite injustice,” said Panigrahi.
He demanded immediate step to fulfil the demands of the farmers. Youth Congress leaders Santu Pattnaik and Kamala Tandi were present.