Bhubaneswar: Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) & Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Revenue & Disaster Management, Satyabrata Sahu has asked all District Collectors to submit reports on crop damage due to cyclone Michaung by December 12, 2023.
SRC Shri Sahu said widespread rain has been observed across that State during the last couple of days under the influence of cyclone Michaung, which might have caused damage to standing Kharif crops & horticulture crops.
To ameliorate the sufferings of the affected farmers, Agricultural Input Subsidy (AIS), as per norms of the State Disaster Response Fund, will be provided to farmers sustaining crop loss of 33% and above, he said.
The Collectors have been asked to conduct field-level crop loss assessment through joint inquiry by the officials of the Revenue & DM Department and Agriculture & Farmers Empowerment Department through eye estimation to ascertain the crop area damaged of 33% & above and submit ULB/ Block/ GP/ Village wise report as per the format by December 12, 2023 positively.
While assessing the extent of crop loss, the land schedule/RoR of affected farmers should be verified from Bhulekh. Collectors will accord approval of crop loss (farmer-wise extent of crop area damaged as assessed) and intimate requirement of funds for disbursement of AIS as admissible, the ACS Shri Sahu said.
SRC Shri Sahu asked the Collectors to take geo-tagged and time-stamped photographs of the damaged crop area during assessment and preserved in the case records.
The Supervising Officers (Sub-Collector/ Tahasildar/ Addl. Tahasildar/ DAO/ BAO) will conduct test checks to ensure the correctness of the assessment and shall append a certificate to that effect on the damage reports submitted to Collectors for approval.
He made it clear that the crop loss/ area of crop loss already reported as affected by floods & heavy rain during the current year shall not be included in the current assessment.
The remnants of cyclonic storm Michaung caused heavy rain in southern areas on Wednesday. It cause widespread rains in the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Nabarangpur districts while Malkangiri, Koraput and Rayagada also received very heavy rainfall on Tuesday night, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) office said.
The state’s average rainfall in the last 24 hours was recorded at 6.5 mm with the highest downpour of 106.0 mm reported in Pottangi Block of Koraput District, it said.
As per the IMD, Ganjam, Gajapati, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada districts will continue to receive heavy rainfall till Thursday morning.
The Gajapati District Administration has announced the closure of all schools on Wednesday owing to heavy rains. All the primary, upper primary, high schools and anganwadi centres will remain closed on Wednesday, an official said.