Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi of Odisha expressed the government’s dedication to providing irrigation to over 90% of the state’s cultivable land by 2036. Emphasizing the importance of water resource management, he highlighted its role in agricultural development and overall state progress. Plans include bringing an additional 1.5 million hectares under irrigation through various projects in the next five years.
The state currently operates 40,380 Pani Panchayats, managing irrigation for 2.412 million hectares of land. The Odisha Pani Panchayat Act, 2002, ensures equal rights for women, fishermen, and water users. Traditional methods of irrigation have been replaced by the Pani Panchayat system, enabling efficient water distribution.
Various irrigation and water resource projects are underway in Odisha, such as the Khairibandhan Barrage, Upper Lanth Irrigation Project, Sandul underground pipeline project, and Brutanga Irrigation Project. Chief Minister Majhi stressed the importance of farmers diversifying crops and engaging in horticulture to boost their incomes and achieve a prosperous state.
The government is implementing climate-resilient agriculture practices through the Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project, focusing on technological interventions, crop diversification, and resilient seed varieties. To enhance irrigation technology, the Institute of Water Management is deploying IoT-enabled systems for water measurement and soil moisture sensing. Additionally, efforts are being made to improve the capacity and skills of Pani Panchayats through an MoU.
