Odisha approves Rs 625 crore instream storage projects for 74 villages
The five projects across five districts aim to provide drinking water security and revive groundwater tables for nearly 72,000 residents.
The Government of Odisha has granted administrative approval to five major Instream Storage Structure (ISS) projects worth Rs 625.47 crore, according to Pragativadi. These projects, cleared within a single month, are intended to protect rural communities from seasonal water scarcity and erratic monsoons.
The infrastructure drive spans the districts of Rayagada, Kalahandi, Ganjam, Balangir, and Sonepur. It is projected to directly benefit nearly 72,000 residents across 74 villages by improving drinking water reliability and reviving groundwater tables.
The approved projects include the Dhuanpadar ISS on the Vansadhara River and the Revatiguda ISS on the Nagavali River in Rayagada district. In Ganjam, the Bhimpur ISS will be built across the Bahuda River, while the Muralijore ISS is located near Nijharidara village in the Bhawanipatna block of Kalahandi district.
The Kutasingha Barrage will be constructed across the Ong River, a tributary of the Mahanadi, serving communities in Balangir and Sonepur districts. These structures will retain excess monsoon water within existing river channels to ensure water availability during lean months.
Beyond drinking water, the projects are expected to support small-scale irrigation and livestock rearing. The Dhuanpadar, Muralijore, and Revatiguda sites have been identified as hubs for inland fisheries and aquaculture to create local employment.
The initiative is being spearheaded under Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi as part of the ISS 2.0 programme. The state aims to build decentralised water infrastructure to achieve the goal of a water-secure Viksit Odisha.