Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has stepped up measures to tackle the low rainfall in the catchment areas of major reservoirs, including Balimela and Machkund, while prioritising drinking water and agriculture over hydropower generation.
The decision was taken at 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, Subha Sarma, and Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav.
The government has issued strict guidelines to maintain optimum reservoir storage levels. A critical water reserve will be conserved exclusively for drinking water and agricultural needs before any allocation is made for power generation.
With weak monsoon conditions and reservoir levels lower than last year, the Water Resources and Agriculture departments are closely monitoring the situation.
Water conservation is being prioritised to ensure the Kharif farming season remains unaffected. The state has also initiated discussions with the Union Ministry of Agriculture for coordinated support.
Singh Deo said the temporary halt in power generation at the Balimela hydroelectric project is a responsible step to safeguard water for agriculture. He said the state’s power grid remains stable through strategic alternative power procurement and assured citizens there is no need to panic about power or water shortages.
The state has activated a comprehensive contingency plan, with the Agriculture, Energy and Water Resources departments implementing local strategies to protect standing crops.
To offset reduced hydropower generation, the Energy Department, GRIDCO and Odisha Hydro Power Corporation have established an alternative power procurement framework. The state is coordinating with the State Load Despatch Centre, Regional Load Despatch Centre and National Load Despatch Centre to secure electricity from external grids and ensure uninterrupted power supply.
The government has also initiated high-level discussions with the Andhra Pradesh government to address technical issues at the Machkund hydroelectric project. Bilateral talks are underway to restore and modernise the Machkund project units so that optimal power generation can resume at the earliest.
The Odisha government said it remains vigilant and committed to managing the state’s water and energy resources efficiently while responding to the evolving monsoon situation.
