Kotpad: The farmers of Baikunthapur village in Kotpad block of Koraput district have lost crops on around 60 acres due to lack of rains this year.
The farmers have demanded that their area should be declared drought-hit and compensation paid to them for the crop loss.
During the construction of the Kolab Dam in Jeypore, some villagers were shifted to Colony-4 (known as Baikunthapur) in 1955.
The villagers depend on paddy farming. But the shortage of water has damaged their crops this year.
A canal was dug near the village for irrigation, but till now water has not been released into it. Similarly, safe drinking water is also a big problem for the villagers.
The villagers have taken up the matter with the local administration several times, but to no avail, they alleged.
The villagers said the government had promised to provide all facilities in the village to where they were relocated after the dam was set up, but till now it has not provided even basic amenities like safe drinking water.
PNN