Senior government officials and domain experts gathered at the Lokseva Bhavan Convention Centre today for the third session of the two-day Vikas Manthan 1.0 conference, themed “Sujala Sufala & Shasya Shyamala Odisha”.
The session focused on building a prosperous, climate-resilient Odisha through integrated efforts in agriculture, allied sectors, water conservation, and environmental protection.
Professor Arka Kumar Das Mohapatra, former Vice-Chancellor of Odisha State Open University, moderated the deliberations, while Professor Sanatan Pradhan, Principal of Municipal College, Rourkela, co-moderated.
Principal Secretary, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma; Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav; Director, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Vijay Amruta Kulange; Director, Fisheries, Smt. Rina Mohapatra, and Engineer-in-Chief (Planning & Design), Water Resources Department, Er. Lingaraj Gouda presented comprehensive overviews of their respective departments.
The officials highlighted key government initiatives in soil conservation, rainwater harvesting, natural environmental protection, maximum utilisation of renewable energy, aquaculture development, and scientific animal husbandry practices. They also shared detailed roadmaps for the future, aligning Odisha’s Vision 2036 with the national goal of Viksit Bharat @2047.
Speakers underscored that the prosperity of Odisha’s agriculture and allied sectors hinges on collective action to safeguard land, water, and forest resources. They stressed the urgent adoption of climate-resilient farming practices tailored to shifting seasonal patterns caused by climate change.
The session concluded with a strong consensus that synergy among government departments, scientific institutions, and farmers is essential to realise the dream of a “Sujala Sufala & Shasya Shyamala Odisha” — a state where water is abundant, harvests are bountiful, and fields remain evergreen.
