Bhubaneswar, Aug 10: As many as 283 of the 314 blocks of Orissa were today declared as drought-affected. A notification to this effect was issued by the state revenue department. The decision followed the recommendation of a high powered committee, headed by the state's agriculture production commissioner, which had been constituted by the government to go into the matter as also detailed discussion between the chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, and revenue minister, Biswa Bhusan Harichandan.
According to official sources, the committee after taking into consideration the crop condition in different areas which had received scanty rainfall, reports of collectors and the special relief commissioner and provisions of the state relief code, had suggested that all blocks barring those having more than 50 per cent assured irrigation facilities, be declared as drought-hit.

Bureau Report