THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 1, 2026

The Odisha Cabinet on Saturday approved four major irrigation projects worth over Rs 626 crore to expand assured irrigation facilities across six districts through underground pipeline distribution and lift irrigation systems, officials said.

The projects, approved under the Department of Water Resources, are expected to enhance irrigation coverage, improve water-use efficiency and boost agricultural productivity in Balasore, Keonjhar, Khurda, Puri, Rayagada and Gajapati districts.

The Cabinet approved two packages under the Integrated Anandapur Barrage Project involving construction of underground pipeline distribution systems in the command area of the Salandi Left Main Canal in Balasore district.

The first package, with an execution cost of Rs 145.71 crore and an additional Rs 7.30 crore earmarked for five years' operation and maintenance (O&M), will provide irrigation to 7,171.77 hectares of cultivable command area in Soro and Oupada blocks. The project is scheduled to be completed within 24 months.

The second package, approved at an execution cost of Rs 112.52 crore along with Rs 5.64 crore for five years' O&M, will extend irrigation to 5,052.68 hectares in Nilgiri, Soro, Remuna and Balasore Sadar blocks. It is also slated for completion within 24 months.

Officials said the underground pipeline system is being adopted in place of the originally proposed open canal network in the remaining command area to address land acquisition challenges and ensure efficient water distribution.

The Cabinet also cleared five Lift Irrigation Schemes under Cluster No. XXXIV of the Parbati Giri Mega Lift Irrigation Scheme at an execution cost of Rs 234.79 crore, with an additional Rs 21.81 crore for 15 years' O&M.

The project aims to create an additional irrigation potential of around 7,700 hectares in Khurda and Puri districts by lifting water from the Mahanadi and Daya rivers through intake structures and distributing it via a pressurised underground pipeline network. The schemes, to be completed within 36 months, are expected to benefit farmers in 92 villages across the two districts.

Another four Lift Irrigation Schemes under Cluster No. XXXV of the same programme were approved at an execution cost of Rs 133.20 crore, besides Rs 12.37 crore for 15 years' O&M.

The project is designed to create an additional irrigation potential of about 4,050 hectares in Rayagada and Gajapati districts by utilising water from the Harabhangi and Vansadhara rivers through pressurised distribution systems. It will cover 38 villages and is expected to be completed within 36 months.

According to officials, the projects are aimed at promoting crop diversification, encouraging adoption of micro-irrigation and improving the socio-economic condition of farmers by ensuring reliable irrigation facilities across the command areas.