As a major part of Odisha reels under erratic rainfall adversely affecting cropping pattern, close to 17% of blocks were curiously found to have more land covered under irrigation than total cultivable land, says government data.
Information obtained through the exercise of the Right To Information Act on irrigation potential created in Odisha says irrigated land in 53 blocks out of 314 blocks exceeded total cultivable land.
“This piece of information has come as a surprise to me. When the State is struggling to bring 35% of total cultivable land in each block under irrigation, 53 blocks have more irrigated land than their total respective cultivable land,” said Bimal Pandia, a water right activist who obtained the information using RTI Act.
