Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet has given the green light to a significant project aimed at the preservation of the state’s historic irrigation systems and the promotion of heritage tourism through the Building Odisha’s Irrigation (Project) Tourism Amenities (BOITA) scheme.

This initiative, with an investment of Rs 650 crore, will be financed by the state’s own resources over a five-year span, from 2026-27 to 2030-31.

The Department of Water Resources highlights Odisha’s extensive history of maritime and water infrastructure that showcases its cultural, historical, and engineering heritage. The state’s irrigation structures, which date back to the maritime practices of ancient Kalinga and include constructions from the British era and the early years after Independence, have been pivotal in the socio-economic progress of Odisha.

The BOITA scheme is designed to restore and maintain these historic irrigation facilities while promoting Odisha’s traditional methods of water management. Additionally, it aims to generate new socio-economic opportunities in the region by transforming heritage irrigation sites into tourism hotspots.

As part of the program, historical buildings linked to irrigation will be considered for adaptive reuse, and efforts will be made to stabilize and restore heritage irrigation structures, including the revival of their original water systems.

The scheme will also emphasize the sustainable management of these heritage sites by developing essential infrastructure and tourism amenities.

The state government believes that this initiative will safeguard Odisha’s traditional water management practices, raise public awareness about the historical importance of its irrigation systems, and help preserve the state’s distinctive cultural identity.

Over the five-year period, the program is set to integrate heritage conservation, restoration of irrigation infrastructure, and tourism enhancement, potentially revitalizing numerous historic water-related structures throughout Odisha.