Kalinga TV News Network
Bhubaneswar: In a major decision, Odisha Agriculture Minister Damodar Rout on Saturday announced that farmers who have torched their standing paddy crops would not get compensation from the State Government.
Rout stated that the kin of Brunda Sahu, who had set his pest-affected paddy crops on fire at Kalapani village in Bargarh district on Wednesday and committed suicide on next day, will not get any compensation.
The veteran BJD leader also questioned that how could Brunda Sahu consume poison in the presence of so many people on that fateful day. “Brunda’s death case must be investigated properly,” he said.
However, the Minister announced that the farmers in areas with at least 33% crop damage will be eligible to get compensation from the State Government.
Significantly, Rout on Friday appealed the farmers from across the state not to take the extreme step of torching their pest-affected standing paddy crops or committing suicide.
Bargarh District Collector Khagendra Kumar Padhi today submitted a detailed report of Brunda Sahu’s suicide to the State Government. On the other hand, the Sambalpur district collector Samarth Verma today stated that 28,200 hectares of agricultural land have been affected by pests in the region.
The State Government will announce the compensation for the distressed farmers on November 6, the MInister said.
In last few days, farmers of Bargarh, Jharsuguda , Nuapada, Ganjam, Sambalpur, Rayagada districts in the state set their crops on fire on acres and acres of paddy fields as they could not stop the attack of brown plant hopper pest.
Kalinga AI