The Odisha Cabinet has approved a five-year extension of the Mukhyamantri Adibandha Tiyari Yojana, from 2025-26 to 2029-30, with an estimated budget of Rs 2,738 crore.

Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja said the scheme will create an additional 57,525 hectares of irrigation potential and restore 41,713 hectares of existing capacity in its third phase. The plan includes constructing 3,313 new check dams and improving 3,529 existing ones, ensuring irrigation for areas dependent on temporary cross bunds. Besides irrigation, the check dams will provide drinking water during the post-monsoon period, aid groundwater recharge, and enhance kharif irrigation in water-stressed regions.

The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Odisha Food Processing Policy to decentralise decision-making for fiscal incentives. A new district-level committee chaired by the District Collector will approve investments up to Rs one crore, while higher investments will be sanctioned by progressively senior committees, up to the MSME Secretary for projects between Rs 10 crore and Rs 50 crore.