Bhubaneswar, Aug. 18: The Opposition today demanded the state be declared “drought-affected” keeping in view the farmers’ plight owing to erratic monsoon in Orissa.

Congress member Santosh Singh Saluja waved wilted paddy plants in the Assembly as the Opposition insisted on the BJD government tabling a “white paper” on the situation. Erratic rainfall has led to a drought-like situation in many parts of Orissa affecting farming activities at 34 blocks in 16 districts.

The government said it would wait for the eye-estimation report from district collectors before deciding whether to declare the state drought-affected. Dissatisfied with the government’s reply, members of the Congress and the BJP staged a walkout. Earlier, the BJP members staged a dharna on the floor of the House.

Raising the issue through an adjournment motion, Saluja said the farmers were worried owing to lack of adequate rainfall. “Farmers are committing suicide. They should be provided with adequate relief,” said Saluja.

Another Congress MLA Damburdhar Ullaka said: “As the government has failed to clean canals, water is not reaching the farmlands. There is no coordination between the revenue and disaster management department and the agriculture department.”

Prasad Harichandan, chief whip of the Congress, said: “The Orissa government has no concern for farmers. The statement of the minister on drought is not acceptable.”

BJP legislature leader K.V. Singhdeo said: “The situation has worsened in Balangir district. If the government does not take preventive measures, people will join the Maoists.”

In his reply to the adjournment motion, revenue minister Surya Narayan Patro said direction had been issued to all district collectors to send the eye-estimation report of crop loss to the government by August 31.

“The eye-estimation report will be prepared by staff of the agriculture department and the disaster management department. Once the report reaches the government, we will initiate steps to address the problem under the Orissa Relief Code, the Drought manual and the Calamity Relief Fund,” he said. He, however, said the government was already taking steps to protect the standing crop through protective irrigation.

The minister said 34 blocks in 16 districts has received less than 50 per cent rainfall till August 16. If the rainfall situation does not improve, kharif crop would be affected in these areas. Similarly, 113 blocks had received rainfall between 50 and 75 per cent. Rainfall in the remaining blocks was normal, the minister said.