New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Irrigation facilities have been extended to nearly 3.20 lakh hectares of agricultural land and water infrastructure works worth Rs 54,000 crore have been approved in the state over the past two years, said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi Wednesday.
CM showcased Odisha’s significant achievements in water infrastructure, irrigation expansion, water conservation and groundwater management at a departmental summit organised by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti in New Delhi.
Addressing the summit in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Water Resources ministers from various states and senior officials, Majhi said the Odisha Government has accorded the highest priority to water security and irrigation development, given the state’s agriculture-based economy.
Presenting the state’s achievements, Majhi said Odisha has completed the construction of 770 new check dams and nine In-Stream Storage Structures (ISS), while 1,312 old check dams have been renovated to strengthen water conservation infrastructure.
In addition, the state has completed one dam, one barrage, two underground pipeline distribution networks, six mega lift irrigation projects and 32 minor irrigation projects.
The CM said that another 14 ISS projects and six medium irrigation projects are expected to be taken up in the coming year.
Meanwhile, work on five new major and medium irrigation projects, 58 mega lift projects and five new minor irrigation projects is progressing rapidly.
Highlighting initiatives aimed at strengthening rural agriculture, Majhi said the government has constructed 3,224 community lift irrigation projects, 20,228 deep borewells and 8,917 solar deep borewells across the state.
To ensure groundwater sustainability, Odisha has also completed 20,000 rooftop rainwater harvesting structures under the ‘Chhata’ scheme and 1,200 recharge shafts under the ‘Arua’ scheme.
The CM further said that more than 40,000 Pani Panchayats are being strengthened to bring greater transparency, participation and efficiency to irrigation management.
Majhi also made a special mention of the successful completion of the long-awaited Kanupur Project, which had remained stalled since 2003-04.
He said several challenges associated with the project were resolved through the respectful relocation of the local deity Maa Shalabani, coordination with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and technical support from the Central Water Commission (CWC) and IIT Roorkee for the construction of a plastic cut-off wall.
Majhi said Odisha remains committed to efficient and sustainable management of its water resources and to ensuring that improved irrigation and water infrastructure contribute to the welfare and prosperity of farmers and people across the state.