Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government’s vision for Lift Irrigation (LI) focuses on ensuring water security, enhancing agricultural productivity, and improving equitable access to irrigation, particularly in upland and drought-prone regions where traditional canal systems are not feasible. Aligned with the Viksit Bharat vision, the State aims to transform agriculture by providing assured, year-round irrigation across vast cultivable areas, thereby stabilizing farm incomes and strengthening the socio-economic condition of rural communities.
During the 210th Board Meeting of the Odisha Lift Irrigation Corporation (OLIC), held on Thursday in Bhubaneswar, the progress and implementation strategy for Lift Irrigation projects were reviewed by the chairperson Anu Garg.
Under the guidance of the Chief Minister of Odisha and Minister, Water Resources Department, Mohan Charan Majhi, OLIC has made noteworthy advancements during the financial year 2024–25. Through accelerated implementation of irrigation programmes, the Corporation has created an irrigation potential of 16.51 lakh hectares, benefitting more than 15 lakh farmer families across the State.
A major achievement in this period is the expansion of solar-powered deep bore wells. Already, 3,328 installations have been completed, providing irrigation facilities to nearly 0.17 lakh hectares of farmland. By December 2025, an additional 9,000 such installations are targeted, which will increase the number of beneficiary farmers to around 35,000. This shift toward renewable-energy-based irrigation reflects OLIC’s strong commitment to sustainable and environmentally responsible agricultural development.
Farmers in several districts, like Mayurbhanj, are increasingly adopting diversified cropping such as strawberries, sunflowers and mushrooms, which has directly contributed to socioeconomic upliftment. In Shyamakhunta Block of Mayurbhanj district, farmers under the Tarajodi-III Community Lift Irrigation Project successfully cultivated strawberries in 10 hectares of ayacut, earning an income of ₹40 lakh.
For the first time in Odisha, sensor-based IoT devices integrated with a mobile application have been successfully piloted in Lift Irrigation Projects. This innovative initiative enables real-time monitoring and efficient management of water delivery, marking a significant step towards smart irrigation practices in the State. By combining advanced technology solutions with sustainable irrigation infrastructure, OLIC is determined to empower farmers, enhance resilience to climate challenges and drive the overall growth and prosperity of rural Odisha.
