New Delhi: Orissa Chief Minister Naveen
Patnaik on Thursday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sought
central assistance to deal with the unseasonal rains which
have damaged paddy crop in the state.
"The Prime Minister said a central team would shortly
visit the state to assess the damage," Patnaik told reporters
after meeting Singh.
The Chief Minister said unseasonal cyclonic rains have
damaged "a great deal" of standing paddy crop in the state.
Patnaik also submitted a memorandum to the Prime
Minister but refused to give out details.
He would be meeting Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar
tomorrow to discuss ways to help the farmers.
Patnaik would also meet Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee
to discuss Orissa`s proposal before the Centre to introduce
value addition system in the Mines and Minerals Development
and Regulation (MMDR) Act.
PTI
