Effective water management is essential for agriculture, economic growth, and the overall progress of the state, said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi at the state-level Pani Panchayat Week-2026 event held at the Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Centre. He emphasised that the Pani Panchayat system has brought significant changes to Odisha’s agriculture and farmers’ lives.
In his address, the Chief Minister announced that over the next five years, an additional 15 lakh hectares of land will be brought under irrigation through major, medium, and minor projects, lift irrigation, mega lift schemes, and check dams.
Currently, 40,380 Pani Panchayats are actively managing irrigation across 24.12 lakh hectares of land in the state. The Odisha Pani Panchayat Act of 2002 and its amendments have ensured equal rights and opportunities for women, fisherfolk, and water users.
Majhi pointed out that traditional irrigation methods often lead to water wastage, but Pani Panchayats enable equitable and efficient water distribution. He highlighted ongoing projects such as the Khairibandhan Barrage in Mayurbhanj, Upper Lanth Project in Balangir, Sandul Underground Pipeline, Brutanga Irrigation Project in Nayagarh, and various reservoirs and canal initiatives across the state. The government is committed to providing irrigation facilities to over 90% of cultivable land by 2036 to transform Odisha into a prosperous state.
The Chief Minister urged farmers to diversify crops, including vegetables, fruits, and flowers, to increase their income, stating that a prosperous Odisha cannot be built without prosperous farmers. The government is implementing various schemes to make farmers self-reliant. Through the Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture, the state is focusing on climate-resilient farming practices, technological integration in agriculture, crop diversification, and the use of resilient seeds.
To adopt technology in irrigation, the Institute of Water Management has been engaged for IoT-enabled digital water meters and soil moisture sensing systems. Additionally, an MoU with Xavier Institute of Management aims to enhance the efficiency of Pani Panchayats. A pilot project in Chandapala, Nuapada district, covers 2,567 hectares with modern water-efficient and community-managed irrigation.
Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo noted that the government is planning to provide better market access to farmers and export their produce to fetch higher prices, with the primary goal of doubling farmers’ income.
The event was attended by the Additional Chief Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department, Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary of Water Resources Department Shubha Sharma, Engineer-in-Chief Sagar Mohanty, and others.
