Odisha to bring additional 10 lakh hectares under irrigation by 2019

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Sep 15:

Work is on to bring additional ten lakh hectares of land under irrigation by 2019, informed Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while dedicating 1100 check dams at a function at the State Secretariat here today.

Irrigation facilities will be extended to an additional 2.57 lakh hectares by the end of the current fiscal, he added.

Chief Minister said while supply of water for irrigation purpose has already begun from Rengali irrigation project and Upper Indravati project, supply of water from Lower Indra, Telengiri and Reta projects will commence from coming Kharif season.

Emphasizing  that check dams had an extremely important role in facilitating irrigation facilities, Patnaik said from 2010 till date Water Resources department has constructed over 8,700 check dams and has extended irrigation facilities to 66,000 hectares.

Besides, Agriculture, Panchayati Raj and SC & ST Development departments have also constructed 12,500 check dams, he added.

In the current year Water Resources departments has targeted to construct 4,000 check dams and will construct 4,000 check dams every year, the Chief Minister informed.

Patnaik further informed that stress has been laid on construction of check dams for irrigation, sinking of deep tube wells and extension of mega lift irrigation programme in 112 blocks in Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Nuapada, Bolangir, Deogarh and Sundargarh districts.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister unveiled a book relating to check dams.