Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture (OIIPCRA) is being implemented in 15 districts of the State with an objective is to intensify and diversify agricultural production and enhance climate resilience under four components: climate smart intensification and diversion of production; improving access to irrigation and water productivity; institutional capacity strengthening and project management.

Besides improving availability and irrigation in minor irrigation tanks, the project is taking up cross-sectoral convergence of water/ agriculture/ horticulture/ fisheries sectors to benefit farmers through increased quality of irrigation service; average yields; marketable outputs; diversified incomes; climate resilience etc.

Similarly, the Green Climate Fund is a project aimed at ground water recharge in community ponds through structural adaptation measures and use of solar pumps for micro irrigation to ensure water security in vulnerable areas. Key components of the project are adaptation of ground water recharge system, renovation of community tanks, integration of solar pumps for irrigation, capacity building of stakeholders etc.

During the review, she asked all the key departments to work in close coordination for realising the project objectives and ensuring benefits for the communities. She stressed that, besides accelerating all the activities of the projects, there is a need for pursuing innovation, building climate smart villages and leveraging technology for effective monitoring.

Among others, Principal Secretary of PR&DW Department Sushil Kumar Lohani, Principal Secretary of A&FE Arabind Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary of F&ARD Suresh Kumar Vashisth, CGM NABARD, directors of the key departments, Collectors of Ganjam and Mayurbhanj and representatives of agencies such as ICRISAT, ICARDA and IRRI and other stakeholders associated with the projects were present.

The development of the MIS is in the final stage and the portal will soon be dedicated to the officers of Water Resources department for ease of supervision and general public of Odisha at large.

So far, 200 schemes have been completed and 49 are under construction through Parbati Giri  1.0 & Parbati Giri 2.0 projects covering 3,24,000 ha of ayacut through mega lift pumping and pressurized irrigation system.

Parbati Giri Mega Lift Irrigation Project were formulated in the year of 2011-12 to provide Khariff irrigation to the uplands inside or outside irrigation commands which were deprived of flow irrigation due to locational disadvantages.

To monitor the day to day operation of completed schemes and timely operation of ongoing schemes,  IT enabled Project Management techniques- a GIS based Management Information System is being developed with the help of OCAC under IT & 5-T initiatives of the DoWR.

Similarly, another satellite based GIS application for mapping of irrigation commands, water bodies created by the DoWR starting from major reservoirs to check dams , all assets in the irrigation commands including dams, barrages ,canals with structures ,river and canal embankments ,irrigation roads, building etc to create an inventory of assets in an organized manner for operation and maintenance of the assets is being developed under the name “Odisha Jal Sampad”  with the technical help of Odisha Space application Centre. This application is another important IT & 5-T initiatives of the department which was also reviewed by the DC-cum-ACS.

Senior officers of Water Resources department and OCAC were present.