Bhubaneswar, July 20: In response to deficient rainfall in Odisha, the state government has activated a comprehensive State Contingency Plan to safeguard agriculture, ensure drinking water security and maintain uninterrupted power supply across the state.

The decision was taken during 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 of Water Resources Subha Sarma and Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Agriculture & Farmers' Empowerment Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav.

With the monsoon remaining weak and water levels in key reservoirs such as Balimela and Machkund lower than those recorded during the same period last year, the government has directed all concerned departments to adopt proactive measures to minimise the impact on the ongoing Kharif season.

As part of the contingency plan, the Agriculture, Water Resources and Energy Departments are implementing localised strategies to protect standing crops, optimise water use and ensure adequate availability of irrigation water. Officials have also been instructed to closely monitor reservoir levels and preserve water resources to meet essential requirements.

Deputy Chief Minister Singh Deo directed that strict reservoir management protocols be followed to maintain optimum storage levels. A critical reserve of water will be conserved primarily for drinking water supply and agricultural needs before any allocation is made for hydropower generation.

He said the temporary suspension of power generation at the Balimela Hydroelectric Project was a precautionary measure aimed at protecting the state's water resources.

"The temporary halt in power generation at Balimela is an act of responsible governance to safeguard our agricultural sectors. While nature has presented a dry spell in the catchment areas, the state's power grid remains perfectly stable through strategic alternative procurement. We stand firmly with our farmers, and citizens need not panic about power or water shortages," Singh Deo said.

To prevent any disruption in electricity supply due to reduced hydropower generation, the Energy Department, in coordination with GRIDCO and the Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC), has established an alternative power procurement mechanism. The state is working with the State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC), Regional Load Despatch Centre (RLDC) and National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC) to source electricity from external grids and maintain uninterrupted power supply.

The government has also intensified monitoring of reservoir conditions and initiated discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, to ensure timely coordination and support if the rainfall deficit persists.

Meanwhile, efforts are underway to restore generation at the Machkund Hydroelectric Project. The state has initiated high-level discussions with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to expedite the restoration and modernisation of the project's generating units.

Reiterating the government's commitment to effectively managing the evolving situation, Singh Deo said the administration remains fully vigilant and will continue to manage the state's water and energy resources efficiently while protecting farmers' interests and ensuring public welfare.