Odisha Government mulling to compensate to farmers affected by heavy rainfall

Bhubaneswar, Dec 21: Heavy rainfall, caused by a depression over the Bay of Bengal, has resulted in damage to paddy crops across various regions of Odisha. In response, the state government assured farmers on Saturday that they would receive compensation for their losses.

Cooperation Minister Pradeep Bal Samanta announced that the government will take necessary measures to assist farmers affected by the ongoing rains, which began on Friday. He confirmed that compensation would be provided for any damage to paddy crops resulting from this weather.

To minimize crop damage at the Mandis, the government has arranged protective coverings. However, Samanta noted that there is a risk of crops sprouting due to the persistent rain. He assured farmers that paddy would be procured at the Mandis after the crops have dried out following the rain.

The state has been experiencing varying intensities of rainfall, as a well-marked low-pressure area has intensified into a depression over the Bay of Bengal. By 8:30 AM on Saturday, Khurda reported the highest rainfall at 75 mm, followed by Jagatsinghpur with 61.2 mm, and Paradip receiving 61.1 mm. Bhubaneswar recorded 51.6 mm, while Gopalpur saw 58.6 mm of rain in the past 24 hours.