Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday announced a major development push for Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj districts, laying the foundation stones for three lift irrigation projects worth around ₹120 crore and unveiling initiatives in healthcare, banking, sports and education during a programme at Raikala in Kendujhar district.
The three lift irrigation projects — Raikala, Satikudar and Jarakani — are targeted for completion by 2028 and will provide irrigation to around 4,280 hectares of agricultural land across Kendujhar and Mayurbhanj districts. The projects will benefit farmers in several villages under Jhumpura and Kendujhar blocks, besides the Jarakani area of Mayurbhanj.
Addressing the gathering, Majhi said the projects reflected the government’s commitment to farmers and rural development. He said assured irrigation would enable farmers to cultivate two to three crops annually instead of one, substantially enhancing agricultural productivity and income.
The Chief Minister said the government had set a target of providing irrigation to 15 lakh hectares over the next five years. An allocation of ₹14,500 crore had been made in the current year’s budget for irrigation projects, he added.
Highlighting the state’s irrigation initiatives, Majhi said six inter-river reservoir projects had been completed and RCC lining of 1,941 km of field channels undertaken, improving irrigation facilities across nearly 80,000 hectares of command area. Underground pipeline systems were also being developed under the Anandapur Barrage, Lower Suktel and Kusumi Barrage projects. Besides, 656 new check dams had been constructed and 1,022 existing ones renovated.
He announced that the long-awaited Kanupur Irrigation Project in Kendujhar would be formally inaugurated in December, providing assured irrigation to thousands of hectares of farmland.
In the healthcare sector, Majhi inaugurated the Jhumpura Community Health Centre, constructed at a cost of ₹17.97 crore. He also inaugurated a new State Bank of India branch at Raikala to improve access to banking services and institutional credit for farmers, traders and rural residents.
The Chief Minister announced a state-of-the-art sports complex at Raikala at an estimated cost of ₹24 crore and a modern residential school for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students at a cost of ₹30 crore.
Detailing grassroots development initiatives in Raikala, he said 10 projects worth ₹8.20 crore had been taken up. These include a mini stadium at Karanjiapada, additional classrooms at the Upper Primary School, improvement of the Dhableswar Temple premises, a rural market, a Yuba Jyoti Club and renovation of Gramyashree Thakurani.
A new gram panchayat building, a Mission Shakti GPLF building and a 2.5-km concrete road have also been completed, while the foundation stone for a Kalyan Mandap has been laid.
Referring to wider development initiatives in Kendujhar, Majhi said ₹313 crore was being invested in the development of Maa Tarini shrine, while a textile park was being established at an investment of ₹287 crore to generate employment opportunities for local youth. A Disaster Recovery Centre and a Data Centre were also being set up.
Under the CM-KISAN scheme, assistance of ₹41.53 crore had been extended to 2,07,362 farmers in the district. The government had also initiated crop diversification across 35,500 hectares of paddy land, he said.
Criticising the previous government, Majhi said its promise to provide irrigation to at least 35 per cent of agricultural land in every block had remained unfulfilled. He asserted that the present government was working towards expanding irrigation coverage and strengthening the rural economy.
Speaking emotionally about his birthplace, Raikala, the Chief Minister said it was a place of special significance for him and pledged not to forget his roots. He called upon people to work collectively towards building a developed Odisha.
Kendujhar MP Ananta Nayak, Patna MLA Akhil Chandra Nayak, Telkoi MLA and District Planning Board Chairman Fakir Mohan Naik, Keonjhar Special Development Council Chairperson Mamita Naik and other dignitaries attended the programme. Collector Vishal Singh delivered the welcome address, while Additional Collector Rabindra Kumar Pradhan proposed the vote of thanks.
