Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, July 1:

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik today asked all the district collectors to review the crop situation in their respective districts on a weekly basis in view of the emergent situation following scanty rainfall over most parts of the state.

CM videoconferencingWhile holding a review meeting with the district collectors through video conferencing here at the state secretariat, the chief minister also stressed on the provision of safe drinking water, care of livestock, provision of agricultural loans, lift irrigation and undertaking of labour intensive programmes.

It may be noted here that barring  three districts -Nabarangpur, Baleswar and Koraput - all other districts have received 56 percent less rainfall than normal.

The meeting deliberated on preparation of emergency plans for meeting exigencies.

Patnaik asked collectors to continue with provision of drinking water through tankers, wherever the situation demanded.

The Chief Minister directed the Panchayati Raj department to prepare plans in advance for undertaking labour intensive programmes especially in southern and western Odisha.

It was decided at the meeting to provide additional 50 days work under MGNREGS in Bolangir and Nuapada districts.

While stressing on the availability of loans to farmers at the time of need, the Chief Minister directed officials to ensure farmers access loan facilities by July 31. The meeting also deliberated on provision of immediate fresh loans to farmers in event of crop damage and converting short term loans to medium term loans, wherever the need arose.

The chief minister asked the Water Resources department to draw plans for maintaining abundant water for irrigation and drinking water purposes in all reservoirs in the state. He also asked officials to ensure power supply to all existing lift irrigation points while asking then to set up new LI points.

Met department officials present in the meeting informed that there would be some improvement in the situation in July as the state is likely to receive five percent more rainfall than normal.

The meeting was attended by Excise and Cooperation minister Dr Damodar Rout, Agriculture minister Pradip Maharathy, Revenue minister Bijoyshree Routray, chief secretary, development commissioner, principal secretaries and secretaries of various departments.