Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, leader of the opposition Narasingha Mishra, revenue minister Bijayshree Routray and chief secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra at the state-level natural calamity committee meeting to review preparedness. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, June 25: With the monsoon playing truant, the state government today decided to prepare a contingency plan to meet the situation arising out of erratic rainfall.

Though southwest monsoon has set in the state last week, as many as 25 of the state’s 30 districts have recorded 65 per cent less than the normal rainfall by June 20.

Some districts are even deprived of the rainfall by 70 per cent.

Presiding over the state-level natural calamity committee meeting, chief minister Naveen Patnaik today asked the agriculture, water resources, co-operation, rural development, urban development and other departments to prepare an appropriate contingency plan within a week to come to terms with such a situation.

“We are taking all possible steps to combat any natural calamity during the coming monsoon. All concerned departments and agencies have been asked to stay prepared for any contingency,” said Naveen after the meeting.

Disaster management minister Bijayshree Routray said steps were being taken to meet the situation arising out of withering of seedlings on account of deficient rainfall.

While the agriculture department had been asked to be ready with adequate seeds for alternative crops, the co-operation department had been directed to provide fresh loan to meet such eventuality.

In fact, the calamity committee today met to take stock of the state’s preparedness for possible floods this monsoon. However, errant monsoon dominated the proceedings.

The chief minister said: “In spite of deficient rainfall prediction, the chance of floods cannot be totally ruled out. We have to remain in full preparedness to face any situation.”

“In the event of flood, its our responsibility to reach out to the affected people and provide due assistance at the earliest possible time,” he added.