90% land to be covered with irrigation by 2036: CM
Bhubaneswar: CM Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday said the Odisha govt aims to bring 90% of the state’s cultivable land under irrigation by its centenary year in 2036, while creating irrigation facilities for an additional 15 lakh hectares over the next five years.
Highlighting the steady progress of key projects such as Khairibandhan barrage in Mayurbhanj, Upper Lanth irrigation project in Balangir, Sandul underground pipeline, and the Brutanga irrigation project in Nayagarh, along with several reservoir and canal works across the state, Majhi said the govt is committed to expanding irrigation coverage to achieve the goal of a prosperous Odisha by 2036, while speaking at the state-level Pani Panchayat Fortnight-2026, organised at the Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Centre.
Stressing that agriculture, economic development and overall progress are impossible without proper water management, Majhi said the Pani Panchayat system has brought a transformative change in Odisha’s agriculture sector and improved farmers’ livelihoods by ensuring equitable and efficient distribution of water.
He said within the next five years, 15 lakh hectares of additional land will be brought under irrigation through large, medium and minor irrigation projects, lift and mega lift irrigation systems, and the construction of check dams.
Majhi said while traditional irrigation methods often led to water wastage, Pani Panchayats have ensured more balanced and efficient use of available water resources.
Calling upon farmers to increase their income through crop diversification, including cultivation of vegetables, fruits and flowers, the chief minister said a prosperous Odisha cannot be achieved without prosperous farmers. He said the state govt is implementing several schemes to make farmers self-reliant, with a special focus on climate-resilient agriculture, the use of resilient seeds, and technology-driven farming practices under the Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture.
To promote technology adoption in the irrigation sector, Majhi said the Institute of Water Management has been engaged to deploy IoT-enabled digital water measurement and soil-moisture sensing systems.
It may be mentioned here that as per the Economic Survey 2024-25, Odisha has increased coverage from 62.6 lakh hectares in 2019-20 to 72.2 lakh hectares in 2023-24 across both kharif and rabi seasons, covering about 79% of the gross cropped area. As many as 94 new irrigation projects, involving an investment of Rs 8,420 crore, have been initiated to further boost irrigation coverage and agricultural productivity.
At present, 40,380 Pani Panchayats are functioning across the state, collectively managing irrigation over 24.12 lakh hectares of land. Through the Odisha Pani Panchayat Act, 2002, and subsequent amendments, equal rights and opportunities have been extended to women, fishermen and other water users.
Highlighting the steady progress of key projects such as Khairibandhan barrage in Mayurbhanj, Upper Lanth irrigation project in Balangir, Sandul underground pipeline, and the Brutanga irrigation project in Nayagarh, along with several reservoir and canal works across the state, Majhi said the govt is committed to expanding irrigation coverage to achieve the goal of a prosperous Odisha by 2036, while speaking at the state-level Pani Panchayat Fortnight-2026, organised at the Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Centre.
Stressing that agriculture, economic development and overall progress are impossible without proper water management, Majhi said the Pani Panchayat system has brought a transformative change in Odisha’s agriculture sector and improved farmers’ livelihoods by ensuring equitable and efficient distribution of water.
He said within the next five years, 15 lakh hectares of additional land will be brought under irrigation through large, medium and minor irrigation projects, lift and mega lift irrigation systems, and the construction of check dams.
Majhi said while traditional irrigation methods often led to water wastage, Pani Panchayats have ensured more balanced and efficient use of available water resources.
Calling upon farmers to increase their income through crop diversification, including cultivation of vegetables, fruits and flowers, the chief minister said a prosperous Odisha cannot be achieved without prosperous farmers. He said the state govt is implementing several schemes to make farmers self-reliant, with a special focus on climate-resilient agriculture, the use of resilient seeds, and technology-driven farming practices under the Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture.
To promote technology adoption in the irrigation sector, Majhi said the Institute of Water Management has been engaged to deploy IoT-enabled digital water measurement and soil-moisture sensing systems.
It may be mentioned here that as per the Economic Survey 2024-25, Odisha has increased coverage from 62.6 lakh hectares in 2019-20 to 72.2 lakh hectares in 2023-24 across both kharif and rabi seasons, covering about 79% of the gross cropped area. As many as 94 new irrigation projects, involving an investment of Rs 8,420 crore, have been initiated to further boost irrigation coverage and agricultural productivity.
At present, 40,380 Pani Panchayats are functioning across the state, collectively managing irrigation over 24.12 lakh hectares of land. Through the Odisha Pani Panchayat Act, 2002, and subsequent amendments, equal rights and opportunities have been extended to women, fishermen and other water users.
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