Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today set a target of providing irrigation facility to additional 10 lakh hectares of land in the state by 2019 as he dedicated 1,100 check dams at a function here.
Patnaik, who dedicated the check dams constructed by the water resources department via video conferencing, said as many as 2.57 lakh hectares land would get irrigation facilities by the end of this fiscal.
"I am really happy to dedicate 1,100 check dams for the farmers of our state. I hope these check dams will benefit them in increasing their production," he said.
Stating that check dams play a vital role in irrigation and also re-charge ground water, the Chief Minister said the water resources department since 2010 has constructed 8,700 check dames which irrigate about 67,000 hectares.
Besides, the Departments of Agriculture, Panchayati Raj and ST and SC Development departments have set up 12,500 check dams since 2010, the Chief Minister, who is also in charge of the water resources department, said.
"The water resources department will set up 4,000 check dams during the ongoing fiscal. Every year, at least 4,000 check dams will be established across the state," Patnaik said.
Farmers of Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Nuapada, Bolangir, Deogarh and Sundergarh will be benefited from check dams, deep bore wells and mega lift irrigation projects, he said.
Patnaik said while farmers are getting water from Upper Indravati and Rengali projects, Lower Indra, Telengiri and Ret irrigation projects will become operational from the coming Kharif season.
Farmers of Nabarangpur will get benefit from Telengiri project, while Bolangir farmers from Lower Indra project. The water from Ret irrogation project will help irrigate agricultural land in Kalahandi district, he added.
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