The Union Agricultre Minister Radhamohan Singh held a press meet along with Union P&NG Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday and lashed out at the Odisha Government. He revealed that the CRRI (Central Rice Research Institute) had alerted the state government and even issued advisory on pest menace on October 4 and 5. But, that was ignored by the officials, leading to the present crisis.
Pradhan informed that a central team of the BJP comprising of six members will accompany Shekhawat. During his Odisha visit the Minister will visit seven pest-affected districts in the state to take stock of the pest affected paddy crops.