Observance of Pani Panchayat Pakhya, 2024

Division level Pani Panchayat Fortnight held across the State 

Bhubaneswar 23/12/2024

In the first leg of conduct of Pani Panchayat Pakhya, 2025, scheduled during         22nd December, 2024-5th January, 2025, Division level observance of this fortnight  have been held across 136 Divisions of the state on 22.12.2022. The District level functions will be held in 29th December, 2024 and the State level one on 5th of January, 2025.

This year, the Pani Panchayat Fortnight has been converged with the ‘Krushi Odisha’ for greater synergy amongst the farmers and members of Pani Panchayats and to give both greater exposure to the interventions of the Department of Water Resources and the allied Departments such as Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment and Fisheries & Animal Husbandry. 

The Pakhya has been scheduled with Flag off ceremony of launching of Rath by Hon’ble Ministers, Hon’ble MPs,MLAs in presence of local PRI and ULB representatives, eminent persons,  invited for the programme 

On this occasion of commencement of Pani Panchayat Fortnight on 22nd December in the Division levels , Hon’ble MLAs, Angul, Bhadrak,  Kamakhyanagar, Paralakhemundi, Jagatsinghpur, Patna, Anandpur, Bangiriposi, Jashipur, Malkangiri, Khariar, Gunpur, Kantamal, Nawarangpur and Korei have flagged off Raths in their respective constituencies. Further, Collectors & District Magistrates, Deogarh, Gajapati, Mayurbhanja, Nuapada, Rayagada, Sundergarh were also a part of the flagging off of the Raths.  

 Various activities held such as debate, essay, painting, quiz, exhibition of Model competitions amongst school children, exhibitions on the occasion,Pani Panchayat Samabesha, Information Education Communication(IEC), Social Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) activities through exhibitions and Rath etc. Awareness are being created through Banners, brochures, logo, slogan, tagline, anthem, oath etc  to create the buzz. 

It is noteworthy to mention here that more than 39000 Pani Panchayats are spearheading water governance in the state in a participatory manner. The Odisha Pani Panchayat Act, 2002 and amendments thereto have brought in inclusion and equity by opening avenues for women, fishermen, water users under the mega lift irrigation projects.

Rs 1338 Cr has been provided for construction of 2400 KMs of field channels covering 80,000 Ha of command area and reconstruction of 1860 KMs of old and dilapidated channels covering 62,000 Ha till the FY 2028-29. 

Pani Panchayats these days are also being initiated to greater water productivity and efficient water use; climate resilient agricultural practices and technologies; diversification of crops and use of resilient seeds; supply chain and market linkages etc through projects such as Odisha Integrated Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture.

Collaborations have also been established with the Institute of Water Management for piloting IoT enabled digital water measuring and soil moisture sensing systems and the Xavier Institute of Management for building the capacity of the Pani Panchayats through master trainers.

Real-time monitoring of functioning of Pani Panchayats and water micro structures being built and convergent activities taken up by them are being tracked trough IT interventions such as e-CAD and Samanwaya mobile and web based applications. 

Odisha has been conferred with first rank in the best state category for the National Water Award, 2023 by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Govt. of India for the work done in the field of water resources conservation and management and the contribution of the Pani Panchayats has been a significant in this pursuit. The effort of the state in ensuring equity and inclusion in Pani Panchayats has also been acknowledged at the national level.

While the Pakhya gives us an opportunity to acknowledge the immense contribution being made by the Pani Panchayats and farmers in the water sector it also acts as a platform to sensitize the Pani Panchayats ensuring equity and inclusion in water governance; increased diversification and intensification of crops; adopting technology and conservation- reuse- recycling practices.