THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, NOVEMBER 13, 2026
In a major push to strengthen agricultural infrastructure and address
water scarcity in western Odisha, the Upper Lanth Medium Irrigation Project is
set to transform farming prospects in drought-prone Belpada block of Balangir
district, with an estimated annual irrigation potential of 6,105 hectares
across Kharif and Rabi seasons.
The project, designed to provide assured irrigation to 4,700 hectares of
cultivable land, is expected to significantly improve agricultural
productivity, increase cropping intensity and enable farmers to undertake
cultivation beyond the monsoon season.
Of the total irrigation potential, 3,990 hectares will be covered during
the Kharif season and 2,115 hectares during Rabi, providing a major boost to
farmers who frequently face water shortages during critical stages of
cultivation.
A key component of the project is the construction of a 108-metre-long
spillway across the Lanth River near Chikili village in Patnagarh subdivision
at an estimated cost of Rs 143.98 crore. Equipped with seven radial gates, the
spillway will ensure efficient regulation of reservoir water, facilitate
optimum storage and enable the safe discharge of excess water during periods of
heavy inflow.
The structure will serve as the backbone of the reservoir management
system, helping maintain adequate water levels for irrigation and drinking
purposes while ensuring controlled discharge to safeguard downstream areas and
riverine infrastructure.
The project also envisages the development of an extensive irrigation
distribution network, comprising an earth-fill dam and two main canals. The
16.08-km Left Main Canal and the 6.66-km Right Main Canal will carry stored
water to the designated command areas, extending irrigation facilities to
farming communities in the water-stressed region.
In a significant provision for rural water security, the project has
earmarked 2.19 million cubic metres of surface water to meet the drinking water
requirements of villages within the command area.
The integrated water management initiative is expected to address the
twin challenges of agricultural irrigation and household water supply,
improving the overall socio-economic conditions of rural communities.
The foundation stone of the project was laid on November 2, 2024. Its
inclusion among four new irrigation projects announced in Odisha's Agriculture
Budget for 2025-26 underlines the state government's focus on expanding
irrigation infrastructure and strengthening the agricultural economy.
Following the grant of administrative approval, the tendering process for
the project is currently underway.
Once completed, the Upper Lanth Medium Irrigation Project is expected to emerge as a significant driver of agricultural transformation in Balangir district, enhancing farm productivity, strengthening resilience against erratic rainfall and improving water availability for both cultivation and domestic consumption.
The project is also expected to contribute to the state's broader vision of building a climate-resilient agricultural economy and achieving the goal of Viksit Odisha.
