Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government declared at least nine districts of the state as drought hit on Thursday basing on the reports received from the Collectors and authorised them to undertake the relief measures without further delay.
Those districts which have been declared as drought-hit are, Bargarh, Bolangir, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Sambalpur and Sudargarh. These districts have been declared affected by drought of moderate/severe natures vide Gazette Notification No. 8537 Dt. 31.10.2018
As per a Press Release dated 31.10.2018 reads, at least 233173.8 hectares of crop land in 5633 villages under 1186 Gram Panchayats of 66 blocks and 16 ULBs of 9 districts have sustained crop loss of 33% and above due to moisture stress for Kharif-2018.
The report also reads that, “The State Drought Monitoring Cell (SDMC) functioning at OSDMA is monitoring the drought situation in the field, while studying different parameters as prescribed in the Manual for Drought Management, 2016.”
Pointing at the scanty rainfall, the report informs that, another 30 blocks in 12 districts have experienced deficit rainfall (shortfall between 19% and 39%). dry spell period of continuous three weeks and more. 100 blocks in 19 districts have experienced dry spell period of continuous three weeks or more, it adds.
Notably, the situation came to light after the Odisha Government assigned Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department and Collectors with the task of conducting a joint verification of crop condition in the field and ordered to submit a report.
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Ms Kalinga