INDIA —The Government of Odisha has accorded formal administrative approval for five in-stream storage structure (ISS) projects representing a total capital outlay of 6.25 billion Indian rupees. Deployed across four major river basins, the water infrastructure program spans Rayagada, Kalahandi, Ganjam, Balangir, and Sonepur districts to strengthen regional water security and climate adaptation.
The Government of Odisha is the state executive authority governing public policy, economic planning, and civil infrastructure development in eastern India. Its Water Resources Department is responsible for planning, constructing, and managing irrigation networks, river basin projects, and groundwater conservation assets across the state.
The approved portfolio comprises the Dhuanpadar ISS on the Vansadhara River and the Revatiguda ISS on the Nagavali River in Rayagada district, the Bhimpur ISS on the Bahuda River in Ganjam district, the Muralijore ISS in Kalahandi district, and the Kutasingha Barrage across the Ong River, a primary tributary of the Mahanadi serving Bolangir and Sonepur districts. Designed to retain monsoon runoff directly within river channels without displacing surrounding populations, these structures replenish local aquifers, sustain wells during lean seasons, and supply water for domestic use, agricultural irrigation, livestock rearing, and inland fisheries.
Advancing the state's mission-mode water conservation strategy initiated in 2024, this investment generates immediate procurement and execution demand for regional civil engineering firms and water management contractors. For agricultural enterprises, rural supply chains, and regional policymakers, expanded riverine storage stabilizes crop yields against erratic monsoons, supports inland aquaculture incomes, and builds long-term ecological resilience across eastern India.
