Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday directed the authorities to conduct election and audit of the Pani Panchayats and has suggested that Pani Panchayats to strengthen and develop them as agricultural marketing centers.
Launching the state-level Pani Panchayat at the Bermuda Sports Ground in Bhubaneswar, Majhi said that research of irrigation and agricultural scientists and the hard work of the farmers have made it possible for the state to feed 140 crore people and the state can now also export food to foreign countries. For this, irrigation of the farmers’ land is very necessary. Hence, he instructed the concerned officials to complete all irrigation projects on a war footing.
The Chief Minister said that to provide water to the farmers’ land in the state, it has been decided to construct new field channels and convert the old channels into concrete channels. About 2,400 km of new concrete canals will be constructed in 80,000 hectares of irrigated area from this year to the financial year 2028-29. In addition, he announced that 1,860 km of very old and dilapidated field canals in 62,000 hectares of irrigated area will be reconstructed into concrete canals.
The Chief Minister said, “Our priority is to ensure efficient use of water, equity in water distribution and adequate irrigation of farmers’ land. Pani Panchayats have a big role to play in this regard. Currently, more than 39,000 Pani Pnchayats are taking the lead in water management in the state. This ensures everyone’s participation in water management and also prevents wastage of water, the Chief Minister said.
He said that more than Rs 13,223 crore has been provided in this year’s Budget for the development of water resources in the state. In the current Budget, the process of starting the Bartang Irrigation Project in Nayagarh district, the Pipalpak Project in Ganjam district, the Upper Lanth Irrigation Project in Bolangir district, the Samakoi Barrage Project in Angul district, three projects in Bargarh district and seven in Nuapada district, three in Kalahandi district and two in Nuapada district, 359 group hill irrigation projects in Kalahandi, Bolangir, Bargarh and Nuapada districts and 11,886 deep tube well projects has been expedited. “As the departmental minister, I am personally reviewing all these projects,” he said.
Majhi further said, “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 to bring about a paradigm shift in agriculture. For this, the Indian Institute of Water Management under ICAR has been affiliated. Xavier University has also been contacted for skill development of Pani Panchayats.
Addressing the farmers present, the Chief Minister, “Farmers are the main source of the state’s development. They are providing food to everyone. That is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has honoured you as Annadatas. Both the Central and state governments are implementing several schemes for the welfare of farmers. This year, Rs 33,919 crore has been provided in the agriculture budget for the development of agriculture in the state. Our government has been with the farmers in their good and lean periods. Taking the unseasonal rains as a disaster, our government has decided to provide more than Rs 291 crore in assistance to the affected farmers and 6.66 lakh farmers will get this assistance.”
Finally, the Chief Minister said that if the farmers prosper, Odisha will prosper. Therefore, he appealed to the farmers to join all state government programmes for the development of the state and the development of the agriculture sector.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, who is also the Agriculture Minister, said that the Odisha government is with the farmers and is making adequate arrangements for their growth. Arrangements are also being made to provide market linkages for the farmers’ production. He advised everyone to use water wisely, he added.
On this occasion, Development Commissioner Anu Garg said that a large number of women are now taking the lead in Pani Panchayats and are doing very good work. Therefore, our focus is to include as many women as possible in Pani Panchayats. The interest of various states in the Pani Panchayat programme of Odisha has increased. Therefore, if everyone works well and together, Odisha’s fame at the national-level will increase further, she said.
Principal Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Department Dr Arabinda Padhee and Chief Engineer of Water Resources Department Chandra Shekhar Padhi also spoke on the occasion.
On this occasion, Sashmita Nayak, a successful female farmer of a Pani Panchayat in Dhenkanal, and Bagal Charan Brahma, a successful farmer of a Pani Panchayat in Keonjhar district, shared their experiences about the success of Pani Panchayats.
The Chief Minister released a coffee table book titled ‘Irrigation Partnership 3.0’. A short film on irrigation partnership was screened on the occasion. Kriti Vidyarthi, a successful Pani Panchayat farmer, and Daksha Akhir were honoured.
