Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday announced livelihood support package for Cyclone Bulbul affected, including input subsidy for crop damages of 33 per cent or more and amounting to Rs 6,800 per hectare for rain fed and non-irrigated land, Rs 13,500 per hectare for assured irrigation and Rs 18,000 per hectare for perennial crop.
He directed the district Collectors to submit damage-assessment report by November 18 while assistance will be given by November 24.
Focus was also given on restoring livelihoods of affected farmers. The package includes 50,000 seed and 10,000 vegetable mini kits, 3,000 sprayers at 50 per cent subsidy. Around 45,000 acres of demonstration crops will be undertaken and short-term loans advanced in Rabi 2019 season will be converted into medium term.
Assistance was also announced for repair and renovation of betel vine units and for repairs of shade net and thatched structure of mushroom units. Assistance will also be provided for loss of milch cow, buffalo, draught animals, goat and sheep and poultry birds.
Bringing relief to those engaged in fish farming and affected in the cyclone, the package will provide assistance for repair of partially and fully damaged boats and nets. It also includes Rs 12,200/Ha for de-silting and restoration of fish farms and Rs 8,200/Ha for damaged fish seed farms.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister undertook a aerial survey of cyclone-affected districts.
As per preliminary estimation, nearly 3 lakh hectare of crop area including horticulture crops have been affected out of which about 2 Lkah hectare have suffered crop loss to the extent of 33 per cent and above.
At least five districts – Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak Balasore and Mayurbhanj – have been mostly affected due to cyclone ‘Bulbul’. Jajpur is also affected to some extent, according to a communiqué issued Special Relief Commissioner’s (SRC) office.
