Odisha Cabinet Approves Rs 650-Crore BOITA Scheme to Turn Historic Irrigation Sites into Tourism Destinations

Bhubaneswar: Odisha is set to invest Rs 650 crore over the next five years to conserve its historic irrigation infrastructure and develop heritage water sites as tourism destinations, with the state Cabinet approving the Building Odisha’s Irrigation (Project) Tourism Amenities (BOITA) scheme on Monday.

The programme, to be implemented from 2026-27 to 2030-31, will be funded entirely from the State’s own resources. It seeks to bring together heritage conservation, restoration of old irrigation systems and tourism development under a single initiative.

The Department of Water Resources said Odisha’s water infrastructure represents an important part of its historical and engineering legacy. Its heritage ranges from the State’s ancient maritime traditions to irrigation structures developed during the British period and the early years after Independence.

Several of these structures, besides their engineering significance, are closely linked to the social and economic development of the regions in which they were built. The BOITA scheme aims to give such assets a new role by conserving them and creating appropriate tourism facilities around them.

Under the scheme, historic buildings associated with irrigation infrastructure may be adaptively reused, allowing old structures to serve new purposes while retaining their heritage character.

Heritage irrigation structures will also be stabilised and restored, with efforts made to revive their original water systems wherever feasible. The government intends to combine conservation with the sustainable use of these assets rather than treating them solely as historical monuments.

Tourism amenities and supporting infrastructure will be developed at selected sites to make them accessible and attractive to visitors. The initiative is expected to generate new opportunities for local economic activity while increasing public engagement with Odisha’s water heritage.

The government believes the programme will also help document and showcase the State’s traditional water management practices, many of which reflect the engineering knowledge and adaptive practices of earlier periods.

By linking restoration with tourism and local development, the five-year BOITA programme is expected to give several historic irrigation assets across Odisha a new lease of life while preserving their cultural and engineering significance for future generations.