Nuapada Collector Reviews Progress of Irrigation Projects, Directs Timely Completion

Nuapada: In a significant step towards strengthening irrigation infrastructure and improving agricultural productivity, Nuapada Collector Madhusudan Dash chaired a comprehensive review meeting on Thursday to assess the progress of various irrigation projects being implemented under the Odisha Lift Irrigation Corporation (OLIC) and the Minor Irrigation Department. The meeting was held in the Collector’s Conference Hall. Emphasising the importance of quality execution, the Collector directed all concerned officials to ensure that every irrigation project is completed within the stipulated timeline without compromising construction standards. He also instructed officials to inspect all existing minor irrigation projects across the district, identify schemes requiring restoration, and submit proposals for their revival at the earliest. During the review, officials informed that under the 2025–26 financial year, transformers have already reached the sites of 90 out of 1,064 conventional deep borewell irrigation projects and will be installed after inspection by TPWODL authorities. Transformers for another 210 projects have been procured and are expected to be installed by the end of the current month. Supervision charges have been deposited for 223 projects, while the remaining projects are expected to complete the process within the month. Under the CLIPS scheme, work orders have been issued for 27 projects, of which electrification has been completed in 24. The remaining three projects are targeted for completion by the end of the month with the support of TPWODL. The meeting further reviewed the restoration of 66 defunct lift irrigation projects and the strengthening of 93 existing functional projects, both of which have received approval from the OLIC headquarters. Under the RIDF scheme for 2026–27, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for 126 new river-based lift irrigation projects have been submitted to the OLIC headquarters and are awaiting approval. DPRs for 476 cluster deep borewell projects and 305 solar-powered deep borewell projects have also been forwarded, with the tendering process expected to commence after approval. Reviewing the progress of the Minor Irrigation Department, Superintending Engineer Chandrasekhar Sethi informed that canal lining work under the Sahajata Minor Irrigation Project, announced by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, has been completed and is awaiting inauguration. He also stated that the DPR for the Kodopali Diversion Project has been prepared, while the tendering process for the construction of two new check dams at Silda Nala in Dianmunda and Siratol Nala in Jhilimila is in its final stage. The meeting also reviewed the progress of check dams, irrigation tanks, canal renovation works, modernization of major dams, and the tendering status of upcoming irrigation projects. Central Nodal Officer of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, G. V. Prithvi Sagar, who is on a district visit from August 5 to 7 to inspect irrigation projects, also attended the meeting and shared his observations on the implementation of the schemes. Among those present were OLIC Executive Engineer Prasanna Kumar Sethi, TPWODL Division Executive Engineer Sukhyat Dev Parida, Assistant Executive Engineer Manas Ranjan Buda, Superintending Engineer of the Minor Irrigation Department Chandrasekhar Sethi, and senior officials from various departments.