Bhubaneswar: The state government will spend Rs 12,458 crore through the Parbati Giri Mega Lift Irrigation Project to strengthen irrigation facility across Odisha.

The Odisha Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, today approved a proposal in this regard.

“The Cabinet has approved execution of Parbati Giri Mega Lift Irrigation Project with an outlay of Rs 12,458 crore over a period of five years starting 2026-27 financial year,” said Chief Secretary Anu Garg while briefing the media.

The government will create an additional irrigation potential of 2,62,275 hectares through 161 schemes in all 30 districts of Odisha, added the Chief Secretary.

The state government has so far completed 209 mega lift irrigation schemes, creating irrigation potential of 2.66 lakh hectares across 23 districts.

“Despite significant expansion of irrigation infrastructure, a considerable area of cultivable land remains rainfed, making agriculture vulnerable to erratic rainfall, droughts, and climate change. To address this challenge, the state government has prioritized the development of Mega Lift Irrigation Projects in upland and water-deficit areas where conventional gravity irrigation is not feasible,” stated the Chief Secretary.