Bhubaneswar, Jan. 19: Union minister of state for agriculture K.V. Thomas, whose portfolio was changed in the reshuffle today, had to cut short his official visit to the state. He has been elevated and given the independent charge of the departments of consumer affairs, food and public distribution.

The minister rescheduled his meeting with chief minister Naveen Patnaik and left for the Capital to be sworn in as a minister of state. Thomas was here to make an assessment of the crop loss due to unseasonal rainfall in the first week of December.

During the meeting, Naveen urged the minister to immediately take up the state’s cause and release the relief assistance to the state at the earliest. Thomas said he would present the state’s case before the high-power committee. During the meeting, Naveen alleged that the state was being neglected by the Centre. He pointed out that the Centre had already released money for the affected farmers of AP and Maharashtra and had done very little for Orissa.

During his stay, Thomas had held discussions with senior Congress leaders at the party office about the cause of farmers. He was informed about the farmers’ plight in the state. The PCC also submitted a memorandum to him demanding more assistance for the farmers.

The state government had submitted a memorandum demanding Rs 1,056 crore for the state following which a central team of officials had visited the state to assess the damage. The committee is said to have agreed with the state government that there had been large-scale damage to crops due to untimely rain.

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 19: Union minister of state for agriculture Prof KV Thomas, whose portfolio was changed in the reshuffle today, had to cut short his official visit to the state. He has been elevated and given the independent charge of departments of consumer affairs, food and public distribution.

The Minister rescheduled his meeting with the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and left for the Capital to be sworn in as a Minister of State with independent charge. Thomas was in the Capital to make an assessment of the crop loss due to unseasonal rainfall in the first week of December.

During the meeting, Patnaik urged the Minister to immediately take up the state’s cause and release the relief assistance to the state at the earliest. The Minister said he would present Orissa's case before the high-power committee which was represented by the union finance minister, home minister and agriculture minister. During the meeting, Patnaik alleged that the state was being neglected by the Centre. He pointed out that the Centre had already released money for the affected farmers of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra and had done very little for Orissa.

During his stay, Thomas had held discussions with senior Congress leaders at the party office about the cause of farmers. He was informed about the farmers’ plight in the State. The PCC also submitted a memorandum to him demanding more assistance for the farmers.

The state government had submitted a memorandum demanding Rs 1056 crore for the state following which a central team of officials had visited the state to assess the damage. The committee is said to have agreed with the state government that there had been large scale damage to crops due to untimely rain.