Bhubaneswar: President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi jointly inaugurated the Kusumi Smart Irrigation UGPL Project in Nayagarh district and dedicated the Changaria Minor Irrigation Project in Balangir district to the nation.
The projects were launched during their visit to Mayurbhanj on the second anniversary of the Odisha government.
The Kusumi Smart Irrigation project, implemented at an investment of Rs 230.40 crore, will provide irrigation facilities to 3,745 hectares of agricultural land across 49 villages under 10 Pani Panchayats in Nayagarh district. According to the Water Resources Department, the project will significantly enhance water use efficiency and boost crop productivity for farmers in the region.
Similarly, the Changaria Minor Irrigation Project in Khaprakhol block of Balangir district has created an irrigation potential of 57 hectares. This project will directly benefit 522 people, mostly small and marginal farmers, and is expected to increase agricultural yield through assured irrigation.
Both initiatives reflect the continued focus of the Central and State governments on expanding irrigation coverage, reducing monsoon dependency, and promoting sustainable agricultural growth in Odisha. Local farmers have welcomed the development, viewing it as a major step towards improving rural livelihoods in Nayagarh and Balangir districts.
