Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Monday assured citizens that there is no immediate threat of water or power shortages despite below-normal rainfall in the catchment areas of key reservoirs, including Balimela and Machkund. It said a comprehensive contingency plan has been activated to safeguard drinking water supply, irrigation requirements, and power availability during the ongoing monsoon deficit.
The assurance came after a high-level review meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo. The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) Vishal Kumar Dev, Principal Secretary (Water Resources) Shubha Sarma, and Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav.
Deputy Chief Minister Singh Deo directed officials to ensure the smooth management of the low rainfall period. Strict guidelines have been issued to maintain optimum reservoir storage levels, with priority given to conserving critical water reserves for drinking purposes and agricultural needs before allocating water for power generation.
In view of the weak monsoon and lower reservoir levels compared to last year, the Water Resources and Agriculture Departments are closely monitoring the situation. Water conservation measures are being prioritised to ensure that the Kharif farming cycle remains unaffected. High-level discussions have also been initiated with the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, to ensure effective coordination and necessary support.
Singh Deo said the temporary suspension of power generation at Balimela was a precautionary measure aimed at protecting the interests of farmers and ensuring water security.
“Nature has presented a dry spell in the catchment areas, but the state’s power grid remains stable through strategic alternative procurement. We stand firmly with our farmers, and citizens need not panic about water or power shortages,” he said.
To address potential challenges, a comprehensive State Contingency Plan has been activated. The Agriculture, Energy and Water Resources Departments are implementing region-specific strategies to protect standing crops and manage available resources effectively.
To compensate for the reduction in hydro-power generation, the Energy Department, along with GRIDCO and OHPC, has put in place an alternative power procurement framework. In coordination with the State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC), Regional Load Despatch Centre (RLDC), and National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC), the state is procuring power from external sources to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to consumers.
Regarding technical issues at the Machkund project, the state government has initiated high-level discussions with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Bilateral talks are underway to expedite the restoration and modernisation of the Machkund units so that the project can resume generation at its optimal capacity at the earliest.
The Odisha government said it remains fully vigilant and committed to managing the state’s water and energy resources efficiently while ensuring the interests of farmers and citizens are protected.
