Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has launched a mission-mode restoration drive at Janivili Anicut, which suffered extensive damage during floods, to safeguard the drinking water supply to Brahmapur city and its adjoining areas, the Water Resources Department said on Thursday.
The restoration work has been accorded top priority given the anicut’s crucial role in meeting the drinking water requirements of more than five lakh people in the region.
The ongoing operation focuses on strengthening the damaged left-side abutment and rehabilitating the upstream and downstream aprons to restore the structure’s stability and ensure its long-term functionality.
As an immediate measure, stone dumping is being carried out upstream to divert river water towards the WATCO cofferdam, which supports the city’s water supply system. Preparatory activities for reconstructing the damaged portions of the anicut are also underway to facilitate permanent restoration under safe working conditions.
The Odisha Construction Corporation Limited (OCCL) has been entrusted with the execution of the restoration project under the supervision of the Water Resources Department. Manpower, machinery and construction materials have been mobilised on a priority basis, with multiple activities being carried out simultaneously to expedite the work.
The WATCO-managed water supply system, which primarily depends on the anicut, supplies around 90 million litres of water per day (MLD) to nearly 70,000 households in Berhampur, benefiting over five lakh people.
The department said continuous monitoring and coordinated efforts were underway to restore the damaged infrastructure at the earliest and protect the city’s essential drinking water supply.
