Odisha CM Prioritizes Timely Completion of Irrigation Projects

Bhubaneswar, Jan 5 (UNI): Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed officials to complete all irrigation projects on a war footing to ensure sustainable water supply for agriculture and equitable water distribution across the state. The announcement was made during the state-level function marking the conclusion of the fortnight-long Pani Panchayat celebrations at the Bermuda Sports Ground in Bhubaneswar.

The Chief Minister emphasized the critical role of water in enhancing agricultural productivity and contributing to the state’s capability to feed 140 crore people and export food grains globally. “Water supply to agricultural land is vital. Therefore, all irrigation projects must be completed at the earliest,” he stated.

Key Initiatives Announced

To bolster agricultural irrigation, the government has:

• Planned the construction of 2,400 km of new field channels and the concretization of 1,860 km of old channels by 2028-29 to bring 1,42,000 hectares of cropland under irrigation.
• Allocated ₹13,223 crore in the 2024-25 budget for water resource development.
• Expedited projects such as the Bartang Irrigation Project (Nayagarh), Pipalpak Project (Ganjam), Upper Lanth Project (Balangir), Samakoi Barrage (Angul), and 11,886 deep tube well initiatives.

Strengthening Pani Panchayats

Highlighting the role of the state’s 39,000 Pani Panchayats in water management, CM Majhi stressed the need to conduct elections and audits as per Panchayat rules and transform these bodies into agricultural marketing centers. He also lauded the increasing involvement of women in these initiatives, with Development Commissioner Anu Garg announcing the government’s focus on expanding women’s participation further.

Technological Integration

The state has partnered with the Indian Institute of Water Management and Xavier University to develop soil moisture measurement systems and train Pani Panchayats in advanced water management techniques.

Farmer Welfare

Acknowledging the hardships caused by unseasonal rains, the Chief Minister declared financial assistance of over ₹291 crore for 6.66 lakh affected farmers. Additionally, the state agriculture budget has been enhanced to ₹33,919 crore to promote the sector’s growth and welfare schemes for farmers.

Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring market linkages for farmers’ produce and promoting agricultural development.

A coffee table book, Irrigation Partnership 3.0, was released during the event, alongside the screening of a short film on irrigation initiatives.

With these measures, the Odisha government aims to drive a paradigm shift in agriculture, ensuring a robust and sustainable water management system for the future.