Bhubaneswar: Vedanta Aluminium Company is taking a major step towards ensuring water security in Kalahandi district of Odisha. Using technology-enabled initiatives and a collaborative approach, the 'Sangam Watershed Project' will provide sustainable water supply to 41 villages around Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district, providing year-round water for both drinking and agricultural purposes.
The Sangam Watershed Project is providing water for irrigation to over 3,500 acres of farmland, increasing water storage capacity and groundwater recharge rate. Once fully implemented, the initiative will directly benefit over 22,000 people every year. In the last financial year alone, over 2,500 people have directly benefited from the development of community-based and farm ponds, which collectively have increased the recharge capacity by 2.82 lakh cubic metres.
As part of its commitment to sustainable agriculture, the Vedanta Sangam watershed project has significantly increased agricultural productivity in Balabhadrapur village, with farmers reporting a 25% increase in sugarcane production. This has been possible through a holistic approach that includes water security, availability of high-quality seeds and fertilizers, crop protection, expert-led training and promotion of smart farming methods such as drip irrigation, vegetable cultivation through nets and strawberry cultivation.
In view of this, the villagers hosted a communal lunch with the Vedanta senior leadership, celebrating the company’s meaningful contribution to their livelihoods. The project also supports organic farming on 72 acres of land through NADEP composting and has set up five Kisan Seva Kendras to promote mechanized farming. Vedanta Lanjigarh Alumina Refinery in Kalahandi is at the heart of this transformation, which is scaling up a wide range of development programmes, from sustainable livelihoods and indigenous art restoration to waste-to-wealth initiatives and improvements in healthcare and education. The company’s efforts aim to improve the quality of life of the local community and contribute to the economic and social development of Kalahandi. “Thanks to the Sangam project and Vedanta’s support, our sugarcane production has increased by 25%, which we once felt was beyond our reach. With quality seeds, expert training and support for fencing, our efforts have finally paid off,” said Krishna Charan Mali, a sugarcane farmer from Balabhadrapur.
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