Samikhsya Bureau
It is the need of the hours and for a change, the opposition has waken up to a cause so relevant in the present circumstances. With more than 15 districts feared to be facing an acute drought condition due to shortage in rain fall, the demand for a debate on the drought was so long felt. It is time the ruling dispensation accepted the proposal and got ready to evaluate the means to combat the situation.
Opposition BJP and the Congress today urged Odisha Assembly Speaker S N Patro to direct the Revenue and Disaster Management Minister to make a detailed statement on the impending drought situation in the state and the measures taken by the government to counter it.
Raising the issue during zero hour, Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik demanded a special discussion on the impending drought situation in the state so that MLAs could present a correct picture of their area in the house.
He requested the Speaker to direct the Revenue Minister to apprise the house about rainfall status of the districts.
Naik said, drought situation looms large in many areas due to scanty rainfall.
Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra said crop fields have cracked and there is not sufficient water in check dams.
The farmers, he said could not start agricultural activities due to lack of rain.
Though drought is knocking at the door, the government is taking it very casually which is not tolerable, he said.
Mishra said the farmers have not yet got their crop insurance money and the KALIA scheme failed to help them. The farmers are committing suicide,he said adding that one farmer committed suicide today.
The Congress leader said the state government is not admitting the farmers suicide in the house but one of its MPs in Parliament said farmers in Odisha are committing suicide due to crop loss.
Mishra said, either the MP is telling a lie or the government is misleading the house and urged the Speaker to direct the Minister to make a statement on farmers suicide in the house during the course of the day.
The Minister, he said, should inform the house which area of the state are going to be affected by drought, what steps, the government is planning to counter it and how the farmers will get their crop insurance money.
The Speaker directed the Revenue Minister to make a statement in the house tomorrow about the steps taken to counter drought.
(with UNI inputs)
