Keonjhar: Anu Garg, IAS, Development Commissioner- cum-Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Department of Water Resources, visited the Kanupur irrigation project in Keonjhar district and inspected the ongoing works of the dam & spillway, including gate works and the canal system, to review the progress of the Kanupur Irrigation Project.
She also had a high-level meeting attended by the District Magistrate and Collector of Keonjhar, Engineer-in-Chief of Water Resources, Managing Director of OCC, Chief Engineer (Designs) and the Chief Construction Engineer of the Kanupur Irrigation Project where details of issues relating to Kanapur Irrigation Project and other water sector programme in the district were discussed.
Senior officers from various sectors of the Water Resources Department—including Major & Medium Irrigation, Megalift, Minor Irrigation, OLIC, and Ground Water—shared updates on their preparedness and initiatives aimed at irrigation development across Keonjhar district for Vision Odisha 2036.
The Kanupur project, which began two decades ago, is poised to be the first major irrigation project in the Baitarani System to moderate flood situations in the river basin. Besides, water stored will support irrigation in nearly 30,000 hectares and provide much-needed drinking water in Odisha’s mineral-rich areas.
The DC-cum-ACS, DoWR emphasised for completion of Kanupur Spillway by July 2025 and to provide Kharif irrigation of 13,000 hectares during current Kharif. She directed all officers from all sectors of the Water Resources Department to ensure optimal utilisation of water from existing projects, extend ayacut areas where surplus water exists, and pursue new irrigation initiatives.
Highlighting the water-scarce nature of the Baitarani Basin, the ACS proposed the cascading and interlinking of minor irrigation projects to facilitate water transfer. She also called for a comprehensive policy to enhance storage by providing outlets from canals to ponds, tanks beyond the irrigation department’s jurisdiction.
The visit underscores the government’s renewed push to strengthen irrigation infrastructure and ensure water security in the region.
