Flood Control / Odisha to Reinforce River Embankments after Floods

Bhubaneswar, Aug 22: The Odisha government has decided to widen and heighten river embankments, with special focus on the Baitarani, following the recent floods that left several districts inundated.

Officials confirmed that the embankment reinforcement will be carried out with NABARD funding to prevent future breaches.

Heavy rainfall exceeding 50 mm was recorded in parts of southern Odisha yesterday. While flood levels in the Subarnarekha have receded below danger marks, waterlogging continues in pockets of Jajpur and Bhadrak.

Also read: Odisha Set for Six Days of Heavy Rain as Cyclonic Systems Strengthen

At Hirakud, seven gates remain open, releasing 1.45 lakh cusecs of water. Engineers are stationed at vulnerable points to supervise repairs, with two breaches already sealed. Authorities emphasized that this year’s damage was not due to human interference but because of excessive water flow, which weakened embankments.

Learning from the crisis, the Water Resources Department has resolved to strengthen embankments along rivers such as Salandi, Kani, and Baitarani. Plans include raising embankment height and widening structures to withstand future floods.

In Dasarathpur block, floods from the Baitarani and its tributary Kani left over one lakh people affected across 62 villages. Twelve villages remain cut off, with families facing snake and frog infestations in marooned areas. Although water levels are gradually receding, danger persists as floodwaters continue to lash village boundaries.

Meanwhile, in the Subarnarekha basin, receding upstream water has worsened conditions downstream due to poor drainage. Low-lying areas in Baliapal, Bhograi, and Jaleswar blocks remain submerged.

Thousands of hectares of paddy fields have been destroyed, leaving cattle and livestock starving. Villagers returning from relief camps are struggling to clean mud-filled homes, while food grains and household items have been ruined. In Baliapal’s Jamakunta village, floodwaters collapsed house walls, leaving families without shelter.

The government’s renewed focus on embankment strengthening aims to reduce such devastation in future. With NABARD support, the initiative is expected to provide long-term resilience against recurring floods in Odisha’s vulnerable river basins.