State to set up 1 lakh bore wells for irrigation in 3 yrs

"The government has decided to install at least one lakh bore wells within three years to extend irrigation facility," said a senior official after attending a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

One lakh bore wells could alone provide sufficient water to 10 lakh hectare during the kharif season and two lakh hectare in rabi season, he said.

The state at present has 13,000 bore wells for irrigation. While only 2514 bore wells were so far electrified, the government targeted to energise another 5,000 within one month.

All the existing bore wells would be electrified by the end of October, before the ensuing rabi season, he said.

With availability of bore wells, the farmers could avail water around the year and plant three crops annually and also cultivate vegetables and horticulture.
One bore well could easily irrigate 10 hectare.

The state government has constructed 2,000 check dams on rivers which could also come to the rescue of the farmers during a water crisis, the official said.