Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet on Wednesday approved the execution of the Parbati Giri Mega Lift Irrigation Project at an estimated cost of Rs 12,458.04 crore, aimed at creating an additional irrigation potential of 2.62 lakh hectares across all districts of the state over the next five years.
The project will be implemented from the state’s own resources between FY 2026-27 and FY 2030-31 and will comprise 161 mega lift irrigation schemes.
Agriculture remains the primary source of livelihood for a large section of Odisha’s population, but a substantial portion of cultivable land continues to depend on rainfall despite the expansion of irrigation infrastructure. The government has therefore prioritised mega lift irrigation projects in upland and water-deficit areas where conventional gravity-based irrigation is not feasible.
These projects draw surface water and distribute it through underground pipeline systems, reducing conveyance losses and improving water-use efficiency. So far, 209 Mega Lift Irrigation schemes have been completed, creating irrigation potential for around 2.66 lakh hectares across 23 districts.
The Parbati Giri project is expected to provide assured irrigation to farmers within a relatively shorter period because of the lower gestation period of mega lift irrigation schemes compared with conventional irrigation projects.
According to the government, the project will use a pressurised pipeline distribution system compatible with micro-irrigation technologies. This is expected to improve water-use efficiency and promote judicious utilisation of available water resources.
The availability of assured irrigation is also expected to encourage farmers to diversify from water-intensive paddy cultivation to high-value cash crops, thereby improving agricultural productivity and farm incomes.
The project is further expected to increase cropping intensity by facilitating cultivation during multiple crop seasons and reducing farmers’ dependence on monsoon rainfall. The government said the initiative would contribute to sustainable agricultural development and strengthen irrigation coverage across Odisha.
