Implementation of a sustainable irrigation project in Odisha was reviewed

Bhubaneswar:13/3/25: The implementation of a sustainable irrigation project in Odisha was reviewed on Wednesday in a high-level meeting chaired by Anu Garg, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary (DC-cum-ACS) of the Department of Water Resources.

According to an official press release, the meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary of Fisheries & Animal Resources Development (FARD), directors, and senior officers from stakeholder departments.

Emphasizing the need for effective convergence and increased expenditure, the DC-cum-ACS urged key departmental functionaries to accelerate the project’s impact.

The Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture (OIIPCRA) has introduced multiple climate-smart interventions across 538 minor irrigation tanks in 15 districts, significantly boosting agricultural sustainability.

Progress was highlighted in the civil works sector, where headworks improvements, dam re-sectioning, and dam strengthening through stone riprap packing and turfing have been carried out in 157 Minor Irrigation Projects (MIPs). Additionally, work is ongoing in 189 MIPs. Field channels spanning 120 km have been constructed to deliver irrigation water to 4,500 hectares of command areas.

To promote participatory farm mechanization, Pani Panchayats have been provided with 113 Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs). The adoption of climate-smart agricultural and horticultural practices has been facilitated through the installation of 1,236 solar bore wells, benefiting 6,180 hectares.

Infrastructure enhancements include 688 pack houses for post-harvest vegetable processing and storage, 125 metric tonnes of cold rooms to prevent post-harvest losses, 592 preservation units for value-added processing, 131 sabji coolers for vegetable storage, and 344 onion storage structures to stabilize market supply and manage price fluctuations.

The fisheries sector has also witnessed significant advancements under the project, with 846.27 hectares allocated for scientific pisciculture, 518 bio-floc units for high-yield fish production, 297 fishing drag nets for efficient harvesting, and 57 fish marketing vehicles to improve market access.

In addition to boosting agricultural and fishery production, OIIPCRA has contributed to environmental sustainability. The project has enriched soil fertility with 10.88 lakh kg of nitrogen, facilitated 236.71 kg of carbon sequestration through green manuring in 13,604 hectares, and reduced methane emissions by 1.92 lakh kg through the adoption of Dry Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) on 6,895 hectares.