Odisha prioritises drinking water, irrigation amid low rainfall in reservoir catchments

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has stepped up measures to manage water resources amid below-normal rainfall in the catchment areas of key reservoirs, including Balimela and Machkund, with priority being given to drinking water supply and irrigation while assuring that there will be no disruption in electricity supply.

The preparedness was reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo in the presence of Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) Vishal Kumar Dev, Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department Subha Sarma and Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav.

Following the meeting, the government said strict guidelines have been put in place to maintain optimum reservoir storage levels. Water will be conserved primarily to meet drinking water needs and support agriculture before being utilised for hydropower generation.

Officials said the Water Resources and Agriculture departments are closely monitoring reservoir levels in view of the weak monsoon. The State has also initiated discussions with the Union Ministry of Agriculture to ensure coordinated support if the dry spell persists.

Addressing the situation, Singh Deo said the temporary suspension of power generation at the Balimela Hydro Electric Project is a precautionary measure aimed at protecting water availability for farming. He assured that despite lower hydroelectric generation, Odisha’s power supply remains stable through alternative procurement arrangements.

To address any potential shortfall, the Energy Department, along with GRIDCO and the Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC), has activated a comprehensive power procurement strategy. The State is coordinating with the State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC), Regional Load Despatch Centre (RLDC) and National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC) to source electricity from external grids and ensure uninterrupted supply to consumers.

The government has also activated a State Contingency Plan, with the Agriculture, Energy and Water Resources departments implementing localised measures to protect standing Kharif crops and manage available water resources efficiently.

On the Machkund Hydro Electric Project, the government said discussions have been initiated with the Andhra Pradesh government to expedite the restoration and modernisation of generating units so that power generation can resume at full capacity at the earliest.

The State Government reiterated that it remains vigilant and is continuously monitoring the evolving situation to ensure efficient management of water and energy resources while safeguarding the interests of farmers and consumers.