Activity Report for the Year 2011-12
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THE ROLE OF REVENUE & DISASTER MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT Revenue administration is closely associated with the all round development of the State and the prosperity of its people. Land is an important source of livelihood of people and their shelter. Revenue administration touches individuals and is concerned with their problems. The activities of the Revenue Department are not merely confined to solving people’s problems relating to land; these also include providing land to the landless and protecting the Government land. This Department shoulders the responsibility of providing immediate relief to the people affected by natural calamities such as floods, droughts, cyclones, hailstorms, earthquakes, fire accidents, etc. It also takes initiatives for rehabilitation and restoration work. In the matter of transfer of property, particularly the transfer of immovable property, the Registration Offices play a key role in serving people and contributing to the resources of the State by collecting Registration Fee and Stamp Duty. Distribution of Government wasteland for agriculture/ homestead purposes, distribution of ceiling surplus land, prohibition of tribal land alienation, computerisation of Registration and Tehsil Offices, updating of land records and conversion/ regularisation of pre-1980 forest villages and encroached human habitations in forest areas, preparation and distribution of Land Pass Books and formulation of comprehensive rehabilitation and resettlement policy for displaced persons are a few noteworthy programmes of this Department. Appropriate steps are being taken to make Revenue Administration more effective and responsive to the public. The important activities and achievements of this Department during the year 2011-2012 are indicated below: 1. Disaster Management During the year 2011-12 the State experienced multiple natural calamities like flood, drought, heat wave, hailstorm, lightening, etc. But, due to proper planning and timely intervention of the State Government those situations have been tackled very successfully. The details are mentioned below:- (i) FLOODS & HEAVY RAIN The State faced two successive severe floods in the months of September 2011. The floods came in the river Mahanadi, Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga, Brahmani and Baitarani & their tributaries. 6473 villages under 1405 GPs of 122 Blocks and 240 Wards under 26 ULBs in 21 Districts were affected by Flood and Heavy Rain. 87 persons lost their lives, 1.78 lakh dwelling houses were damaged, 3870 hect. of crop land was sand cast and 2.78 lakh hect. of agriculture land sustained crop loss of 50% and above due to floods. The State Government promptly responded to the situation and took all measures required at the moment to alleviate the distress of the flood affected people. 2 All the ten units of ODRAF (Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force) were deployed in Cuttack, Puri, Kendrapara, Jajpur & Jagatsinghpur districts for rescue and relief operation. NDRF battalion at Mundali were mobilised with boats & emergency equipments for search and rescue operation. About 2.80 lakh people were evacuated to safer places and kept in temporary shelters during 1st phase flood. Similarly, 1.74 lakh people were evacuated to safer places and kept in temporary shelters during 2nd phase flood. Affected families were provided with polythene sheets. Evacuated people were provided with adequate quantities of dry food and cooked food through free kitchen centres. 542 free kitchen centers were opened during 1st phase of flood. Similarly, 684 kitchen centers were opened in the 2nd phase. Emergent relief was sanctioned for a period of 7 to 15 days for the marooned people of the flood affected Districts. Emergent relief in shape of rice, chuda and guda was distributed in the flood affected villages. In addition to dry food, candles, matchboxes, kerosene and other essential materials were distributed. Children and infants in the marooned areas were provided with nutritious baby food through Anganwadi Centers. 62061 food packets were air-dropped through helicopters of Indian Air Force and Indian Navy in Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Nayagarh and Boudh Districts. In order to prevent outbreak of epidemics, 138 medical mobile teams were deployed in the flood affected districts and 524 Medical Relief Centers were opened. Medical officers and paramedics were also 3 mobilised from medical colleges, training institutions and other districts. 476143 ORS packets, 13244507 halogen tablets were distributed. Affected animals were shifted to safer places. 160 Mobile veterinary teams were deployed in the flood affected areas. 640 health camps were organised and 3.24 lakh livestock were treated and vaccinated. 6276.49 MT of cattle feed of high quality was distributed. Besides this, NDDB has supplied cattle feed for affected cattle. Safe drinking water through mobile tankers was provided to the affected people. 72.19 lakh water pouches in rural areas and 3.42 lakh water pouches in urban areas were distributed. Tube wells and wells were disinfected. Two Memoranda (for 1st & 2nd phase) were submitted to Govt. of India on 21.09.2011 and 29.09.2011 respectively seeking financial assistance of Rs.3265.38 (2120.92 + 1144.46) crore out of NDRF for completion of the process of relief and restoration measures. An amount of Rs.678.65 crore has been received from NDRF. Financial assistance towards House Building Assistance, Sand Cast Assistance, Ex-gratia Assistance, Assistance in lieu of clothing & utensils, Animal Husbandry Assistance were distributed to concerned beneficiaries through account payee cheques. Due to advance planning and timely intervention of the State Government the flood situation could be tackled effectively. 4 (ii) DROUGHT Inadequate rainfall during Monsoon -2011 caused drought situation. This year, the South West Monsoon arrived in Odisha on 13th of June. During June the rainfall was good i.e. 98.5% of the long term average. The rainfall in the month of July, however, recorded a shortfall of 40.3% with uneven and erratic distribution. In the month of August, the rainfall was deficient by 14% as on 22nd August 2011. The cumulative rainfall in the State from 1st June to 22nd August 2011 thus accounted for a shortfall of 21.7%. Out of 314 Blocks in the State, 31 Blocks of 15 districts received 50% less rainfall of the long term average during crucial months of July and August, 2011, as a result of which moisture stress condition was noticed in paddy crops. 113 Blocks received rainfall between 50%-75% of the long-term average during the period from 1st June to 22nd August 2011. Similarly, 98 Blocks received rainfall of 75%-100%. Remaining 72 Blocks received more rainfall than the long-term average. As a result of good rainfall in June, broadcasting of paddy and progress of non-paddy crops was smooth. Paddy seeds were also sown in nursery bed to take up transplanting operation. But the rainfall in the month of July was deficient for which transplanting of paddy and operations like beushaning of broadcasted paddy, weeding, etc. could not be taken up in most of the areas. Non-irrigated areas were largely affected due to deficient rainfall. 5 The situation was reviewed by the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Odisha in a meeting held on 17th August 2011 in which it was decided to conduct eye estimation survey of crop damage due to inadequate rainfall by the officials of Revenue, Agriculture and Statistics Department jointly. The State Government took the following measures to save the standing crops and raise the Rabi crops. i. Revival of 1,000 defunct Lift Irrigation Points to provide irrigation for the Rabi Crop and release of Rs.65 Crore out of SDRF in favour of Water Resources Department for the purpose. ii. Supply of 30,000 Diesel pump sets to the farmers on subsidized rate by the Agriculture Department. iii. Construction of Cross Bundhs across flowing nallahs, streams in the drought affected areas for protective irrigation and sanction of funds to the tune of Rs.3.15 crore against 6 districts out of SDRF for the above purpose. iv. Supply of Pre-Rabi and Rabi seeds such as Mung, Biri, Mustard, Sunflower and Groundnut at 50% subsidized rates. The Crop Cutting Experiment Reports received from the Collectors shows that 13,106 villages of 2066 GPs under 135 Blocks and 158 wards under 34 ULBs in 20 districts have sustained crop loss of 50% and above due to inadequate rainfall. 6 It was decided to provide the following assistance on the basis of the Final Crop Cutting Experiment Report to the Actual Cultivators where the crop loss is 50% and above. 1. Agriculture input subsidy to the farmers who had sustained crop loss of 50% and above as per the norms and guidelines of SDRF/ NDRF. 2. Conversion of Kharif short term loans to medium term loans in drought affected areas. 3. 50% remission on cess and land revenue to the farmers of the areas where the crop loss is 50% or more. To defer collection of the balance amount to the next financial year without levying any interest. 4. Waiver of tuition fees and examination fees from the students reading in Government and aided Schools and Colleges in drought affected areas. (iii) HEAT WAVE Heat wave conditions prevailed in the State in the months from April to June. The State undertook a number of preparedness/ preventive activities for management of the heat- wave situation like IEC activities through mass media for general awareness of the public, mitigating water scarcity problems, special arrangement of treatment of heat-stroke patients in Government Hospitals at different levels, rescheduling of working hour for labourers, provision of drinking water at works site, restriction on plying of buses during peak hours, re-scheduling of 7 time table of the school and closer of school in advance for summer vacation, etc. Rs.7.01 crore and Rs.14.18 crore out of SDRF has been provided to the Housing & Urban Development Department and Rural Development Department respectively towards supply of drinking water in the water scarcity areas of the State.