Bhubaneswar, Aug. 29: The Opposition Congress today demanded that the Orissa government should immediately declare 24 districts of the state as drought-hit and provide adequate relief to the farmers.

“A high-level delegation will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in mid-September and brief him about the current drought situation prevailing in many parts of Orissa,” said senior Congress leader Narasingh Mishra.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik also took a review meeting to take stock of the situation.

On the other hand, the Orissa government said it was waiting for the eye-estimation report of all the 30 district collectors. “We have so far received reports from 23 districts and will wait for reports from another seven district,” officials said.

Erratic rainfall during the current monsoon has created a drought-like situation nearly in 24 districts of Orissa. Agricultural activities have been badly affected. In order to asses the drought impact, a Congress delegation, led by Mishra, toured the drought-affected areas of Nayagarh, Bouda, Sonepur, Balangir, Nuapada and Kalahandi district between August 23 and August 27.

Addressing a news conference here at the Congress Bhavan, Mishra said: “A dangerous situation has developed because of the drought prevailing across the state. The Orissa government has failed to tackle the situation and meet the farmers’ needs.”

The Congress also demanded that all the agricultural loans should be waived. “The government should also provide loan for the rabi crops,” Mishra said.

Last week, the Opposition in the Assembly demanded a “white paper” on the drought. The members had even shown the “ruined paddy” to Speaker Pradip Amat on the Assembly floor.

BJP legislature leader K.V. Singh Deo said: “The situation has worsened if the government does not rise to this occasion, the people will join hand with the Maoists.”

Revenue minister Surjya Narayan Patro said: “The state is keeping a close watch on the situation. All steps would be taken to address the farmers’ problems.”

Officials sources said the drought package for the farmers was likely to be announced in the first week of September.