Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has intensified efforts to strengthen irrigation infrastructure, with a high-level review meeting held to assess the performance and future roadmap of the Odisha Lift Irrigation Corporation.
The meeting, convened at the conference hall of the Department of Water Resources, was chaired by Shubha Sarma, Principal Secretary of the department. Senior officials, including Bichitra Kumar Samal, Lina Kumari Xess, and district-level officers, participated and shared field-level updates on ongoing projects.
Discussions focused on ensuring adequate irrigation coverage for farmlands during both Rabi and Kharif seasons by maintaining the functionality of lift irrigation systems across the state.
A key highlight of the meeting was the plan to restore defunct Community Lift Irrigation Projects (CLIP), along with reviving deep bore wells—both conventional and solar-powered—and shallow tubewells in various districts. Officials emphasised that these measures would significantly improve water access for farmers.
To streamline implementation, the department decided to prepare monthly expenditure plans for optimal utilisation of the 2026–27 budget and ensure timely completion of projects.
In a move towards better governance and transparency, the state will also develop a comprehensive online database for real-time monitoring and management of irrigation projects.
The review reflects Odisha’s continued focus on strengthening agricultural infrastructure and ensuring reliable irrigation support to boost farm productivity.
