16 Orissa districts face drought

Though depression over Bay of Bengal last week did bring some rain to the parched state,it is not enough,with most of these 16 districts getting less than 50 per cent of normal rainfall.

The CM announced a package for the affected farmers,including 30,000 diesel pumpsets at subsidised rates. By mid-December,10,000 defunct lift irrigation points would be made operational. Meanwhile,non-availability of paddy has stolen the cheer from Nuakhai celebrations in western Orissa this year.