The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide 33,959 million Yen (approximately Rs 1,800 crore) Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan to increase irrigated area and agriculture production under the Rengali Irrigation Project (Phase-II). An agreement was signed between Chief Representative of the JICA India Office Shinya Ejima and Joint Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Finance Tarun Bajaj in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The assistance will enable extension of the Rengali irrigation canal emanating from the Samal Barrage from the current 71.313 km to 123.500km on the left bank and for development of associated distribution system and ancillaries. It will help in mitigating dependence on rain for cultivation and increasing agriculture production and farmers’ income. The assistance will enable irrigation of 39,416 hectares along the canal in Jajpur, Keonjhar and Dhenkanal districts benefiting over 42,400 farmer households comprising over 2,00,000 people. The civil-works for the extension work will be carried out by the State Water Resources Department and are scheduled for completion by 2023.