Odisha to Spend ₹239 Crore on Renovation of Upper Indravati Canal in Kalahandi

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has taken up the renovation and restoration of a 42.606-km stretch of the Upper Indravati Right Main Canal in Kalahandi district at an estimated cost of ₹239.13 crore to improve irrigation infrastructure and ensure efficient water distribution to agricultural fields.

The project covers Reach-II of the canal, extending from chainage 41.100 km to 83.706 km, under the state’s Canal Lining and System Rehabilitation Programme. The work aims to reduce seepage and water transmission losses, enhance the canal’s carrying capacity and ensure a more reliable supply of irrigation water to farmers.

The Upper Indravati Right Main Canal serves agricultural areas in Jaipatna, Kalampur and Junagarh blocks, with a designed command area of 27,195 hectares. Currently, the canal system provides irrigation to 25,846 hectares during the Kharif season and 20,074 hectares during the Rabi season, making it a key irrigation source for the district.

The proposed renovation, including canal lining and structural rehabilitation, is expected to improve water conveyance efficiency and ensure better distribution across the command area. The intervention is particularly important for farmers in the tail-end areas of the canal network, where water availability often depends on the efficiency of the distribution system.

Improved water delivery is expected to support agricultural activities during both Kharif and Rabi seasons and help farmers plan their cropping operations with greater certainty.

The canal forms an important part of the Upper Indravati Multipurpose Project, one of Odisha’s major water infrastructure initiatives. The project involves the transfer of water from the Indravati River in the Godavari basin to the Hati River in the Mahanadi basin. It also generates 600 MW of hydropower at the Mukhiguda Powerhouse before the water is channelled into the irrigation network.

After passing through the powerhouse, the water reaches the Mangalpur Barrage, from where it is diverted into the canal system to irrigate agricultural areas of Kalahandi.

The rehabilitation of Reach-II is expected to strengthen a crucial section of this network and improve the overall performance of the irrigation system, benefiting farming communities across the command area.

The project is part of the state’s efforts to upgrade existing irrigation infrastructure, minimise water losses and improve agricultural productivity through more dependable irrigation facilities.