Odisha

been implemented covering an area of 2.64 lakh ha grouped in 17 clusters. The project is benefiting about 7 lakh farmers that have increased the water availability to 10 percent, up from 50 percent earlier. By empowering the farmers to diversify into other crops this project has also made it possible to restore the ecological balance in these areas.

Community Lift Irrigation Project/Cluster Deep Bore Wells under the scheme Biju Krushak Vikash Yojana, is another example of the state’s sensitivity towards the needs of the farmers where the conventional flow irrigation approach was not feasible. In this project, high-pressure pipes were laid without impacting the land areas and are productivity. A dedicated electrical substation has also been set up to avoid low voltage and speedy supply for the smooth operation of energy-efficient pumps. Under the project, around 32,000 Community Lift Irrigation Projects have been installed and irrigation potential of 7.1 lakh ha approximately have been created, which has benefitted around 9.60 lakhs farmers with Paani Panchayat activities in all 30 districts in the State. Similarly, 86,800 numbers of Cluster Deep Bore Wells have been installed with an irrigation potential of about 5 lakh ha.