Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday inaugurated 59 Mega Lift projects in 13 districts of the State under the Parbati Giri Mega Lift Irrigation Project programme. These projects built at an expense of Rs 2,500 crore will irrigate 80,000 hectare highlands.
In addition to this Chief Minister laid the foundation stones for 33 Mega Lift projects. With the completion of these projects, 50,000 hectare will be irrigated.
Participating in the programme through video conferencing, the CM said that farmers are the country’s best servants.
“They are the backbone of our economy. Their hard work and sacrifice has brought many laurels for the State”.
The CM said that he every day meets farmers at his residence and discusses several issues with them. He expressed his happiness over the inclusion of farmers in various schemes of the government.
Throwing light on the various schemes being implemented by the State government for farmers, the CM informed that the State government’s Agriculture Budget has trebled over the last five years and is now Rs 25,000 crore.
He pointed out that the KALIA scheme has proved highly beneficial for the farmers.
“The State government has spent Rs 600 crore towards crop insurance premium of farmers. Similarly, farmers are also being provided with interest-free loans up to Rs 1 lakh.”
Highlighting the development of irrigation in the State, the CM said that irrigation development has been expedited under the 5T initiative.
“Farmers are getting the benefit of irrigation from big projects like Upper Indravati, Lower Indra, Deo and Subarnarekha.That apart, big projects like the Gangadhar Meher Project and Lower Suktel Project will be soon operationalised. The State government is constructing 20 In-Stream Storage Structures for perennial availability of water in rivers. These projects will enrich the State’s agriculture sector and enhance the earnings of farmers,” the CM stated.
On this occasion, CM unveiled the e-megalift App developed by OCAC for better management of mega lift.
It is worth noting that in 2011, the Parbati Giri Mega Lift Irrigation Project was started in the state. In this, 208 projects have been successfully completed and 2,64,330 hectare agricultural land have been irrigated. Similarly, 170 projects have been taken up in the second phase. As many as 1,13,540 hectare of land will be irrigated by this.
Participating in the programme Water Resources Minister Tukuni Sahu said that today will be a memorable day for the Water Resources Department and our State.
Sahu said that Parbati Giri Mega Lift project launched keeping in view problems faced by farmers in highlands due to scarcity of water has brought a revolutionary change in the irrigation sector due to Chief Minister’s direction and sincerity.
Irrigation of highlands through this project has brought change in the living conditions and holistic development of farmers.
Joining the programme through video conferencing, Banki MLA Devi Ranjan Tripathi and Ghasipura MLA Badri Narayan Patra said that due to the implementation of this project, the farmers of their area will be greatly benefited and the Chief Minister promised to install mega lift, and he put it into practice. They said that the people of the area are thanking the Chief Minister for this.
Laxman Barik, a farmer of Ulunda, Subarnapur district, and Babita Patra of Dhenkanal, joined the programme through video conferencing and said that due to the implementation of the mega irrigation project farmers will develop and our farms will get water properly. We can do all kinds of farming right from vegetables. We thank our dear Chief Minister for implementing this project, they said.
Principal Secretary Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, senior officers of the Water Resources Department, Collectors and farmers of different districts were present.
Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Water Resources Department Anu Garg read the welcome address at the programme and Engineer-in-Chief Water Resources Department offered the vote of thanks.
