Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has stepped up restoration of irrigation, drainage and flood-protection infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Arnab, with 169 repair works completed and 257 others underway across seven major and medium irrigation divisions in southern Odisha, the Water Resources Department said on Thursday.
According to the department, a total of 4.772 km of damaged stretches has been restored so far, with Bhanjanagar Irrigation Division accounting for the highest number of completed works at 124.
Restoration has been undertaken at several vulnerable locations, including the Baranga Minor under the Jayamangal Irrigation System in Chatrapur block, the left flood bank of the Rushikulya river near Hiradhara Bati Anicut at Ganganapur and the right flood bank near Karapada in Ganjam district.
Under the Brahmapur Drainage Division, 5.30 km of damaged drainage stretches have been restored. Eight repair works have been completed, while seven others are currently in progress.
In the Minor Irrigation sector, temporary restoration has been completed at 27 projects, including 21 in Ganjam and six in Kandhamal. Repair work was taken up at 30 affected minor irrigation projects and check dams in Ganjam, with work continuing at the remaining sites, the department said.
The Odisha Lift Irrigation Corporation (OLIC) has also initiated restoration at 127 damaged lift irrigation points across three districts. Of these, 93 are located in Ganjam, 31 in Gajapati and three in Kandhamal.
The ongoing interventions are aimed at reviving irrigation facilities, restoring drainage networks and repairing flood-damaged river embankments to support agricultural activities and strengthen flood resilience in the cyclone-affected areas.
The department said restoration efforts were continuing across major, medium and minor irrigation systems, along with lift irrigation facilities, to ensure early revival of essential water infrastructure and services.
