Bhubaneswar: Marking the World Water Day celebrations, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday inaugurated 124 water projects worth ₹320 crore and laid foundation stones for 17 new projects valued at ₹2,292 crore at the Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Centre, taking the total investment to ₹2,612 crore.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister stressed the urgency of water conservation, urging citizens to value every drop and adopt responsible usage practices. He called upon schools to instill awareness among children, describing them as “future water guardians.”
Highlighting key initiatives, Majhi reiterated the state’s commitment to ensuring safe drinking water for all households under the Jal Jeevan Mission. He also spoke about ongoing efforts under Jal Shakti Abhiyan and the Catch the Rain campaign, aimed at strengthening water conservation and community participation.
Emphasising inclusive development, the Chief Minister noted that Odisha is working towards gender equity in water management, aligning with this year’s theme ‘Water and Gender.’ He added that women are being actively trained in water quality monitoring and management at the grassroots level.
Majhi also highlighted the state’s focus on improving irrigation efficiency through the “more crop per drop” approach and expanding irrigation coverage. He said Odisha aims to increase crop intensity to 220 percent by 2036 and 250 percent by 2047, supported by projects such as the Lower Suktel and Kusumi irrigation initiatives.
On the occasion, several key initiatives were launched, including the ‘Bindu’ AI chatbot for citizen feedback and the inauguration of a childcare centre ‘Kalik’ at Rajiv Bhawan. The Water Resources Department also signed an MoU with the Central Water Commission, and released a coffee table book titled ‘Sujala’ along with a river map.
Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo suggested exploring the use of old low-level bridges for water conservation by installing gates, a proposal that the Chief Minister asked officials to examine further.
The event also featured a photo exhibition showcasing water initiatives, attended by senior officials including Anu Garg, Shubha Sarma, and Lingaraj Gouda, among others.
