Develop pani panchayats as agri marketing centres: CM | Bhubaneswar News
Bhubaneswar: Directions were issued by chief minister Mohan Majhi on Sunday to audit and conduct election of pani panchayats in the state according to the regulations. Pani panchayats were formed to ensure equitable water supply to poor and marginal farmers.
Addressing the state-level ‘pani panchayat fortnight’ here, Majhi also advised strengthening the bodies and developing them as agricultural marketing centres.
Majhi emphasised the importance of efficient water use, equitable distribution and ensuring sufficient irrigation for farmlands, highlighting the significant role of pani panchayats. “Currently, over 39,000 pani panchayats are leading water management efforts in the state, facilitating participation and preventing water wastage,” he added.
All the landholders in a ‘chak’, a basic unit for irrigation management, of the pani panchayat shall elect three members in the manner as may be prescribed to form a chak committee. One of these three members shall represent the chak in the executive committee of the pani panchayat on a rotation basis in each election.
Majhi announced plans to build new field channels and convert old ones into concrete channels to supply water to farmlands. “By the 2028-29 fiscal year, 2,400 km of new concrete channels will be constructed in 80,000 hectares of irrigated areas, and 1,860 km of old and dilapidated channels will be reconstructed in 62,000 hectares of irrigated areas,” he added.
He said the govt is taking steps to incorporate technology in water management, aiming for a transformative change in agriculture. “A soil moisture determination system will be developed using digital technology in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Water Management. Xavier University is involved in skill development for pani panchayats,” he added.
The CM also said Rs 291 crore will be provided as compensation to around 6.66 lakh farmers whose crops were damaged and destroyed due to unseasonal rain.
Development commissioner Anu Garg noted the increasing leadership role of women in pani panchayats and the focus on involving more women, attracting interest from other states in Odisha’s programme.
Addressing the state-level ‘pani panchayat fortnight’ here, Majhi also advised strengthening the bodies and developing them as agricultural marketing centres.
Majhi emphasised the importance of efficient water use, equitable distribution and ensuring sufficient irrigation for farmlands, highlighting the significant role of pani panchayats. “Currently, over 39,000 pani panchayats are leading water management efforts in the state, facilitating participation and preventing water wastage,” he added.
All the landholders in a ‘chak’, a basic unit for irrigation management, of the pani panchayat shall elect three members in the manner as may be prescribed to form a chak committee. One of these three members shall represent the chak in the executive committee of the pani panchayat on a rotation basis in each election.
Majhi announced plans to build new field channels and convert old ones into concrete channels to supply water to farmlands. “By the 2028-29 fiscal year, 2,400 km of new concrete channels will be constructed in 80,000 hectares of irrigated areas, and 1,860 km of old and dilapidated channels will be reconstructed in 62,000 hectares of irrigated areas,” he added.
He said the govt is taking steps to incorporate technology in water management, aiming for a transformative change in agriculture. “A soil moisture determination system will be developed using digital technology in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Water Management. Xavier University is involved in skill development for pani panchayats,” he added.
The CM also said Rs 291 crore will be provided as compensation to around 6.66 lakh farmers whose crops were damaged and destroyed due to unseasonal rain.
Development commissioner Anu Garg noted the increasing leadership role of women in pani panchayats and the focus on involving more women, attracting interest from other states in Odisha’s programme.
