Bhubaneswar: Odisha government’s Water Resource Department has made remarkable progress in different sectors during the Calendar Year 2021, said an official press release.
During the Calendar Year 2021, the Upper Indravati Lift Canal System and Lower Indra Major Irrigation Project have been fully completed and dedicated to the public.
As many as 30 In-stream Storage Structures (ISS) are in different stages of grounding. These are large water bodies within the river embankment on the upstream side, which will help in drinking water facility, recharge of groundwater, maintenance of ecological balance, and climate resilience.
The Department has successfully completed Ground Water Resource Assessment 2020 in collaboration with Central Ground Water Board.
It has revealed that the State still does not have any over-exploited or critical blocks. Despite the increase in water extraction in line with State’s development goals, the groundwater level was satisfactory.
The historical Taladanda Main Canal in the millennial city of Cuttack was renovated using CCGM (Cementious Composite Geo-Synthetic Mattress) technology resulting in a complete makeover of the area.
While projecting about Major-Medium Irrigation Projects -In Deo Irrigation Project for the first time, Kharif irrigation has been provided to farmers in 3,500 Ha. The project is likely to be completed by early’2022.
Similarly, Gangadhar Meher Lift Irrigation Project in Bargarh District is in the advanced stage of construction.
The construction work has resumed for Kanupur Irrigation Project and it is expected to be completed by December’2023.
The construction work of the Lower Suktel Irrigation Project has been resumed and the project is expected to be completed by January’2024. Sandul Project of Kalahandi approved by the Cabinet and Sono Project and Banktira Project in Mayurbhanj District are ready for grounding.
In a move towards sustainable irrigation, the scheme for installation of 11618 nos. of solar-based micro river lift (MRL) has been approved. Even as the highest numbers of deep bore wells and Community Lift Irrigation points were installed.
Cabinet approved the Parvatigiri Megalift Irrigation Scheme of Rs 10757.12 Crores for taking up 170 new megalift schemes in a phased manner over a period of 5 years which will create an additional irrigation potential of 2,63,800 Ha. In 2021, 18 nos. of Megalift schemes have been completed creating an additional potential of 24,188 Ha.
In total 129 Megalift schemes have been completed with the creation of 1,55,183 Ha of irrigation potential.
A project on “Raising and strengthening of vulnerable saline embankments in the coastal districts of the State of Odisha” has been prepared. An MoU has been signed with the National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai.
As many as 386 AEEs have been appointed and posted through online counselling, choice locking, and training.
