The Central team, which toured Odisha to assess the prevailing drought situation, has admitted that the State Government’s memorandum on drought to the Centre has veracity. The team, after completing its tour to the drought affected districts, met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the State Secretariat on Saturday.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, team leader and Union Joint Secretary, Agriculture, K Srinivas said that there is veracity in the interim memorandum on drought submitted by the State Government to the Union Agriculture Ministry.
“During our visit to the drought-affected districts, we have found about 80 per cent crop loss in some areas. Even at some places, there are no traces of crops which have been completely damaged,” he added.
Srinivas said the team would submit a comprehensive report about the drought situation in the State in a couple of weeks.
The Central team is scheduled to have a meeting with Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi and other senior officials at the State Secretariat in the evening.
Meanwhile, briefing the media on Saturday, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra said the Central team has admitted that there has been severe drought in the State. “We have requested the Central team to submit its report to the Agriculture Ministry at the earliest possible. In case the team requires more information, it would be provided by the office of the SRC,” Mohapatra said.