Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today urged the Agriculture Ministry to depute a central team to assess the prevailing situation in Odisha in the wake of agricultural activities being hit in the state due to scanty rainfall.
"I request you to kindly depute a central team for taking a first-hand view of the prevailing drought situation in different parts of the state and suggest remedial measures and strategies for combating agarian and rural distress," Union Minister Pradhan wrote to Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh.
A copy of the letter was shared today with the media.
Stating that agricultural activities in Odisha are largely rain-fed and primarily dependent on monsoon, Pradhan said, "On account of weak monsoonal activities over the state, there has been deficient rainfall leading to the creation of a drought- like situation in different parts."
Eight districts in Odisha -- Dhenkanal, Khurda, Balangir, Boudh, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Kandhamal and Keonjhar -- have registered less than normal rainfall, he said in the letter.
"Additionally, agricultural activities in 103 blocks in 23 districts have been adversely affected," Pradhan added as he sought a prompt visit by a central team for mitigating the problems of farmers.
Earlier, the state unit of BJP had drawn the governor's attention to the plight of farmers in the rain-deficient areas of the state.
