Odisha CM declares unseasonal rain as natural calamity to provide relief to farmers

The assistance of around Rs 291 crore will be given from the state disaster response fund (SDRF), he said.

“Unseasonal rain was not on the list of natural calamities in the state. However, keeping in view the crop damage and plight of farmers, our government today declares the unseasonal rain as a natural calamity in the state to facilitate the disbursement of compensation from the state disaster response fund,” he said.

According to district collectors, 6,66,720 farmers have so far reported 33 per cent or more crop loss due to rain between December 20 and 28, the chief minister said.

“These cultivators are entitled to get financial assistance of about Rs 291.59 crore as compensation,” he said.

Crop on around 2,26,791 hectares of agricultural land has been damaged by the untimely weather event, he added.