Discontent is brewing among farmers in Odisha's Ganjam district as they are yet to get the compensation towards loss of crops due to cyclone Phailin and subsequent floods even eight months after the natural calamity.
Different crops, including paddy in over 3.90 lakh hectares had been affected in the cyclone and floods in the district in October last year.
The crop loss had been assessed jointly by the agriculture and revenue departmnt officers.
Ganjam was the worst affected district in the twin calamities, while the farmers severely bore the brunt in the nature's fury. District administration had sought over Rs 165 crore to provide assistance to the farmers towards their crop loss in the natural calamity.
The issue was also discussed in the Ganjam Zilla Parishad meeting held over the weekend at Chhatrapur, when several members expressed concern over the delay in payment of crop damage assistance.
"Though the government had declared the assistance package for the affected farmers, they are yet to get any help even eight months after the twin calamities," alleged Simanchal Nahak, secretary Rushikulya Raita Mahasabha, a famers' organisation.
"Government had announced the compensation package for the affected farmers keeping an eye on the elections and subsequently it has forgotten the plight of the peasants," alleged Rabi Rath, convener of Chasi Surakhya Abhiyan.
The farmers in the district will hit the streets if the state government further delays payment of assistance to the farmers for crop loss, their leaders threatened.
"We have pursued the matter with the government and hope the issue will be solved soon," said Ganjam district Collector Prem Chandra Chaudhary.
Delay in government's decision was perhaps due to the recent elections and enforcement of model code of conduct. "We hope the new government will take decision and release the funds soon," he said.
