Bhubaneswar, Aug 20: The absence of a major dam or barrage on the Baitarani River has raised concerns over flood management in Odisha’s Keonjhar, Bhadrak and Jajpur districts. The river often rises rapidly during prolonged heavy rainfall, affecting several low-lying areas every year.

Unlike the Mahanadi and Brahmani rivers, which are regulated through the Hirakud and Rengali dams, respectively, the Baitarani has no comparable major reservoir system to control its flow.

Odisha Water Resources Department Engineer-in-Chief Dillip Kumar Rout said the state does not have the same level of control over the Baitarani’s water flow because there is no major dam on the river.

The Baitarani originates at Gonasika in Keonjhar district and passes through Banspal, Joda, Champua, Patna, Saharpada, Ghasipura, Anandapur and Hatadihi before entering Bhadrak district. Several tributaries join the river along its course.

During heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas, particularly Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj, large volumes of water enter the Baitarani, causing water levels to rise rapidly at locations such as Anandapur and Akhuapada.

Government considering permanent flood control measures

A major irrigation project was proposed at Kanpur in Joda in 1985, but the project remains incomplete. A barrage has also been constructed at Anandapur, though one side of its canal is yet to be completed.

A smaller dam at Tanjhori exists but is not considered adequate for effective flood control. Meanwhile, work on the Baitarani Power Project at Singhanali is underway.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has said that the state government is considering demands for permanent dams on rivers that are frequently affected by floods.

The lack of a major water storage and regulation system on the Baitarani continues to fuel concerns among residents and authorities, particularly during periods of intense monsoon rainfall.