Farmers staked Suicide due to drought (?)
Rose Monare one of the farm workers busy on the fields cultivating the soil and making sure that the plants are not disturbed by the growing weeds around them at Onverwacht Sustainable small scale farm in Cullinan. Photo:Johnny Onverwacht. 09/06/2013 © Sowetan
Bhagabat Padhi,Odishabarta
Paralakhemundi: Monsoon yet not favourable for farmers. That too those water resources through lift irrigation yet not even meant for irrigation. Huge funds futiled to sustain lift irrigation point at Mohana block of Gajapati district.5 years back lift point established at Adava where near about Rs.50 lakhs expensed to get support of lift irrigation for 200 acres of upland lifted from Harbhangi river where 2 electric pump houses built, supported through 9 lift points.But within 5 years that lift point could not be sustainable irrigation. Machine and parts are destroyed nor maintenance by Lift Irrigation department taken up.52 farmers who cultivate paddy & maize are scared to get return due to accute drought and not at all supported by irrigation department. Moreover those farmers brought loan for seeds & now at crossed hands. Their pity yet to be empathized and they determined to take firm on suicide. Among those farmers Bibhisan Patra, Krushnachandra Pujari, Simanchal Sahu & Debanand Paik retorted that their pleas heeded at Executive Engineer office, Collector and even Chief Minister despite submitted their grievances.
