Bhubaneswar: Revenue minister Suresh Pujari on Tuesday assured compensation for farmers affected by the recent heavy rain, saying the state govt would extend all necessary support to those who suffered crop losses.Pujari said district collectors have been directed to submit reports on crop and house damage at the earliest. Preliminary assessments from Balangir have already reached the revenue department, while reports from districts such as Cuttack and Bargarh are expected soon.“Heavy to very heavy rainfall occurred at several places in the state during the past week. Many places in coastal Odisha have also witnessed heavy rainfall and crop damage,” Pujari said.The minister said Cuttack has suffered extensive damage due to the rain. Vegetable crops and paddy saplings have been affected by the incessant rainfall. He said people from low-lying areas were shifted to safer places and provided cooked food and dry ration.Pujari said he has discussed the situation with district collectors and asked them to send reports on house damage and crop loss to the revenue department. “Preliminary reports have started coming in. I have also directed department officials to release compensation directly to people’s bank accounts after verification,” he said.Collectors have been asked to send the names, addresses, Aadhaar details and bank account numbers of beneficiaries for the release of assistance. “There is no need to visit door to door for distribution of compensation. The amount can be transferred online to beneficiaries’ bank accounts,” he said.The minister said the govt provides compensation to farmers for damage to standing crops caused by heavy rain or other calamities. Earlier, compensation was not provided for crop loss at the initial stage, but the rules were amended last year to provide assistance to farmers in Balasore district whose paddy saplings were damaged in natural calamities.“This year also, compensation will be paid to farmers whose paddy saplings have been damaged in the heavy rain,” Pujari said.He said the govt would not overlook any complaint. “We assure the people of the state that they will get compensation for their losses due to heavy rain,” he said.Heavy rainfall across Odisha has caused widespread damage to agriculture and fisheries. In Kendrapada’s Marshaghai block and Bhadrak’s Basudevpur block, paddy saplings were submerged, leaving farmers worried about transplanting and crop loss.Farmers who had taken loans fear losing their annual income and have sought govt compensation. Floodwater also entered fishponds, causing losses to fish farmers. Vegetable crops were damaged in Cuttack’s Athagarh block, while low-lying villages in Puri’s Pipili block faced inundation.
