CM Majhi Orders Election & Audit Of Pani Panchayats

Mohan Charan Majhi, the chief minister of Odisha, gave the authorities instructions on Sunday to hold elections and audits of the Pani Panchayats. He also recommended that Pani Panchayats be strengthened and developed as hubs for agricultural markets. Majhi, who launched the state-level Pani Panchayat at the Bermuda Sports Ground in Bhubaneswar, claimed that the state can now feed 140 crore people and export food to other nations thanks to the efforts of farmers and irrigation and agricultural scientists. Irrigation of the farmers’ land is essential for this. He thus gave the relevant officials orders to finish all irrigation projects on a military footing.

According to the Chief Minister, it has been agreed to build new field channels and turn the existing ones into concrete channels in order to supply water to the state’s farmers. Between now until the fiscal year 2028–2029, 80,000 hectares of irrigated land will have about 2,400 kilometers of new concrete canals built. He also declared that 62,000 hectares of irrigated land will have 1,860 kilometers of extremely old and decaying field canals rebuilt into concrete canals.

The Chief Minister said, “Our priority is to ensure efficient use of water, equity in water distribution and adequate irrigation of farmers’ land. Pani Panchayats have a big role to play in this regard. Currently, more than 39,000 Pani Pnchayats are taking the lead in water management in the state. This ensures everyone’s participation in water management and also prevents wastage of water, the Chief Minister said.

He said that more than Rs 13,223 crore has been provided in this year’s Budget for the development of water resources in the state. In the current Budget, the process of starting the Bartang Irrigation Project in Nayagarh district, the Pipalpak Project in Ganjam district, the Upper Lanth Irrigation Project in Bolangir district, the Samakoi Barrage Project in Angul district, three projects in Bargarh district and seven in Nuapada district, three in Kalahandi district and two in Nuapada district, 359 group hill irrigation projects in Kalahandi, Bolangir, Bargarh and Nuapada districts and 11,886 deep tube well projects has been expedited. “As the departmental minister, I am personally reviewing all these projects,” he said.

Majhi further said, “Our government has taken steps for extensive use of technology in the field of water management. Soil moisture measurement system will be developed using digital technology to bring about a paradigm shift in agriculture. For this, the Indian Institute of Water Management under ICAR has been affiliated. Xavier University has also been contacted for skill development of Pani Panchayats.

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