Bhubaneswar, 22 March (H.S.): Marking World Water Day 2026, Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday inaugurated 124 water projects worth ₹320 crore and laid foundation stones for 17 additional projects valued at ₹2,292 crore, bringing the total investment to ₹2,612 crore. The state-level event was held at the Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Center.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of water conservation, urging citizens to treat every drop as precious and ensure responsible usage at the household level. He also called for integrating water conservation awareness into school education, describing children as “water soldiers of the future.”
Highlighting key initiatives, Majhi termed the Jal Jeevan Mission a transformative scheme and reiterated the state’s commitment to providing piped drinking water to every household. He also referenced national efforts such as the Jal Shakti Abhiyan and the ‘Catch the Rain’ initiative, which promote water conservation and community participation, including training women in water quality management.
The Chief Minister emphasized inclusive water governance, noting Odisha’s efforts to address gender disparities and strengthen rural livelihoods. Aligning with this year’s theme, “Water and Gender,” he encouraged public participation in achieving water security.
He further underscored the government’s focus on equitable access to clean water under its Antyodaya policy, particularly for underserved and remote areas. Agricultural initiatives such as “more crops per drop” and environmental efforts like the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ plantation drive were also highlighted.
Looking ahead, Majhi outlined targets to increase irrigation crop intensity to 220% by 2036 and 250% by 2047. He noted progress in groundwater recharge through CHHATA and ARUA schemes, and cited major irrigation projects—including the Lower Suktel and Kusumi Smart Irrigation systems—as expanding coverage to around 2.2 lakh hectares.
On the sidelines of the event, the Chief Minister inaugurated the ‘Kalik’ Child Care Center at Rajiv Bhawan and launched ‘Bindu,’ an AI-powered citizen feedback chatbot. The Water Resources Department also signed an MoU with the Central Water Commission, and released a coffee table book titled ‘Sujala’ along with a river map.
Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo proposed retaining old low-level bridges by converting them into gated structures for water conservation. The Chief Minister has directed officials to examine the proposal and submit a detailed report.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda
