Bhubaneswar: The State Government has decided to construct 2400 km of concrete field channels by the end of financial year 2028-25, said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi here today.
Addressing at the valedictory session of state-level Pani Panchayat celebration here, CM Shri Majhi said it has been decided to construct new field channels and convert old channels into concrete channels to provide water to the farmers’ lands in the State.
From the current financial year to the financial year 2028-29, 2400 km of new concrete canals will be constructed in 80 thousand hectares of irrigated area, he said.
Along with this, the Chief Minister announced that 1860 km of very old and dilapidated field canals in 62,000 hectares of irrigated area will be reconstructed into concrete canals.
He suggested strengthening the Pani Panchayats and developing them as agricultural marketing centers. He has directed to conduct elections and audit of as per the rules of Pani Panchayats.
Due to the research of agricultural scientists along with the hard work of the farmers, today the government is able to feed 140 crore people and is also able to export to foreign countries, he pointed out.
For this, water supply to the farmers’ land is very necessary. Therefore, instructions have been given to complete all irrigation projects on a war footing, he informed.
The Chief Minister said, “Our priority is to ensure efficient use of water, equity in water distribution and adequate irrigation of farmers’ lands. Water Panchayats have a big role to play in this direction.”
Currently, more than 39,000 water panchayats are taking the lead in water management in the state. This ensures everyone’s participation in water management and also prevents water wastage, he stated.
The Chief Minister further said that more than Rs 13,223 crore has been provided in the current year’s budget for the development of water resources in the State.
In the current budget, the process of starting the Brutang Irrigation Project in Nayagarh district, the Pipalpank Project in Ganjam district, the Upper Lanth Irrigation Project in Balangir district, the Samakoi Barrage Project in Angul district and 7 lift irrigation projects in Bargarh & Nuapada districts, 3 MIPs in Kalahandi district and 2 in Nuapada district, 359 community lift irrigation projects in Kalahandi, Balangir, Bargarh and Nuapada districts and 11,886 deep tube well projects has been expedited.
“With the aim of revolutionizing agriculture, our government has taken steps for extensive use of technology in the field of water management. Soil moisture measurement system will be developed using digital technology,” he said.
For this, the Indian Water Management Institute under ICAR has been affiliated. Xavier University has also been contacted for skill development of Pani Panchayats, he added.
Addressing the farmers, the Chief Minister said that farmers are the main source for the state’s development. They are providing food to everyone. That is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has honored them as Annadata.
Both the Central and State Governments are implementing many schemes for the welfare of farmers. This year, a provision of Rs 33,919 crore has been made in the agriculture budget for the development of agriculture in the state.
Considering the unseasonal rains as a natural disaster, the State government has decided to provide more than Rs. 291 crore as assistance to the affected farmers. 6.66 lakh farmers will get this assistance, he informed
Finally, the Chief Minister said that if the farmers prosper, Odisha will prosper. Therefore, he appealed to the farmer brothers to join all our programs for the development of the state, for the development of the agricultural sector.