Odisha Govt Gears Up for Monsoon: Deputy CM Reviews Action Plan to Curb Dhanua River Flooding

Bhubaneswar: With the monsoon season approaching, the Odisha government has intensified its efforts to address the recurring floods caused by the Dhanua River. Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida chaired a high-level review meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan today, directing officials to formulate a concrete and time-bound action plan to mitigate flood damage in Nimapara and surrounding regions of Puri district.

The meeting was attended by Development Commissioner Anu Garg, Dr. Chandra Shekhar Padhi, Senior Engineer from the Water Resources Department, and other key officials from relevant departments. The focus was on devising a permanent, sustainable solution to protect farmlands and local livelihoods from annual flood devastation.

The Dhanua River, a distributary originating from Achyutpur Kaja of the Bhargavi River, flows through Balianta and Balipatna before entering the Puri district. Every year during the monsoon, the river overflows and floods villages such as Ganda, submerging hundreds of hectares of paddy fields and farmlands. The stagnant floodwaters often take over a week to recede, severely affecting daily life and damaging crops in several panchayats of Nimapara and Gop blocks.

Deputy CM Parida stressed the need for a comprehensive flood mitigation strategy to be finalized and implemented before the onset of the rainy season. She called for scientific assessment and inter-departmental coordination to ensure both immediate relief and long-term resilience.

Among the proposed interventions were riverbank reinforcement, improved drainage channels, and structural measures like diversion canals and check dams to regulate water flow during peak rainfall.

“The recurring floods have impacted the livelihoods of thousands of farmers for years. We cannot afford to let the situation repeat. A sustainable and permanent solution is not just necessary—it is urgent,” said Deputy CM Parida.