The Odisha government has declared drought in nine of the 30 districts in the State and authorised the Collectors to undertake relief measures in the affected areas.
A total of 2,33,173.8 hectares of crop land in 5,633 villages under 1,186 gram panchayats of 66 blocks and 16 urban local bodies in Bargarh, Balangir, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Sambalpur and Sundargarh have suffered crop loss of 33% and above due to moisture stress, the State government said.
According to the analysis made by the State Drought Monitoring Cell, functioning under the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority, there was rainfall deviation of 39% to 59% (severe deficit) in five blocks —Muribahal, Loisinga and Belapada of Balangir district and Sundargarh Sadar and Tangarapalli blocks of Sundargarh district. An official release said another 30 blocks in 12 districts experienced deficit rainfall (shortfall between 19% and 39%), and 100 blocks in 19 districts experienced dry spell periods of three weeks and more.
The Agriculture and Farmers' Empowerment Department and the Collectors were requested to conduct joint verification of the crop condition in the field and submit a report. Accordingly, the State government on Wednesday issued a notification declaring drought of moderate/severe natures in the nine districts.
