Odisha Lift Irrigation Unveils 5-year Master Plan
Bhubaneswar : In a strategic push toward agricultural development and climate-resilient infrastructure, the Odisha Lift Irrigation Corporation Ltd. (OLIC) has announced an ambitious five-year master plan to expand irrigation coverage across the state. The plan was presented during the 209th Board of Directors meeting held at Lok Seva Bhawan today, chaired by Anu Garg, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary and Chairperson of OLIC.
The master plan, spanning from 2025–26 to 2029–30, aims to create an additional 9 lakh hectares of irrigation potential, with a special focus on blocks currently having less than 35% irrigation coverage. This will significantly enhance agricultural productivity and ensure water security for farmers in under-served regions.
As per the plan, OLIC proposes the installation of 10,380 Cluster Lift Irrigation Projects (CLIPs) and 1,50,500 deep borewells across Odisha. The initiative places strong emphasis on solar-powered solutions to promote long-term sustainability and reduce the state’s reliance on conventional energy sources. Solar energization is expected to lower operational costs and increase reliability for farmers, especially in remote areas.
The Board appreciated OLIC’s increasing operational scale and the scope of the proposed plan. Chairperson Anu Garg advised the corporation to closely coordinate with related departments to ensure seamless implementation. She also emphasized the need to prioritize sustainability, energy efficiency, and digital integration to improve service delivery and monitoring.
Garg further highlighted the importance of crop diversification, especially in water-scarce areas, and urged OLIC to empower women farmers by making irrigation infrastructure more accessible to them.
The adoption of IT-based monitoring tools, integrated with field-level data and mobile applications, was encouraged to improve transparency, efficiency, and real-time project tracking.
With this forward-looking plan, OLIC aims to transform Odisha’s irrigation landscape, empowering farmers and boosting the state’s agricultural resilience. The Board expressed confidence that the implementation of this master plan will play a pivotal role in advancing Odisha’s rural economy, especially in areas that have historically suffered from inadequate irrigation facilities.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deliver on the targets through innovative, technology-driven, and inclusive approaches, in alignment with the state’s broader development goals.
