Publish White Paper on drought: Balgopal Mishra MONDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2011 21:42 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 2 User Rating: / 0

Publish White Paper on drought: Balgopal Mishra
MONDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2011 21:42 PNS | BALANGIR HITS: 2
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Former MP of Balangir Balgopal Mishra on Monday launched an indefinite hunger strike before the district Collectorate demanding official declaration of all drought-hit areas of the State as “drought-affected.”

“Revenue Minister Surjya Narayan Patro during his visit to Balangir on August 17 announced that 16 districts have been affected by drought, six of them, including Balangir, badly. After the statement of the Revenue Minister, it was expected that drought would be declared by the Government basing on the eye estimation reports and by invoking the Relief Code,” said Mishra

The flood havoc of September was created thanks to the mismanagement of the Hirakud water flow by the authorities, which diverted all the attention from the drought situation, Mishra said further.

“Let the Government declare the status of drought situation in the State by publishing a White Paper on drought within 72 hours,” he said.

Even after four months why no relief has been extended to farmers, Mishra asked. Moreover, the Government should provide relief to farmers at par with the assistance for the flood-affected farmers of the coastal areas, Mishra demanded further.