Bhubaneswar: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has thanked Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren for releasing water to Subarnarekha Irrigation Project of Odisha during Kharif season.

completing lchha Dam & Flood moderation in Chandil Dam of Subarnarekha Multi- purpose project.
” I am thankful to you for extending co-operation in providing water to Subarnarekha Irrigation Project of Odisha during Khariff season. As you know, Subarnarekha Multipurpose Project was taken up as a follow up action for utilisation of water resources of Subarnarekha-Kharkhai Basin as per the tripartite agreement made during 1978 among erstwhile Bihar (now Jharkhand) , Odisha & West Bengal.”

Jharkhand has completed lchha Dam & Flood moderation in Chandil Dam of Subarnarekha Multi- purpose project.

Status of projects executed by Jharkhand:


1. Chandil Dam across river Subarnarekha-Completed- Flood Storage for Odisha – Odisha share 26.47%
2. Galudihi Barrage across river Subarnarekha completed -For diversion of Odisha share of water to Odisha- Odisha share – 86.20%.
3. Galudihi Right Bank Canal offtaking from Galudihi Barrage completed –
To carry Odisha’s share of water upto Odisha
Border – Odisha share 94% .
4. Ichha Dam over river Kharkhai- Storage for Odisha share of water- Dykes copleted- Dam work taken up- Odisha share 26.46%.

“In this context, I would like to bring to your kind notice that Subarnarekha Irrigation Project of Odisha will be able to utilise its full irrigation potential only after completion of Ichha dam by government of Jharkhand. I am happy to know that government of Jharkhand has taken up Ichha dam construction work recently. Government of Odisha will extend all cooperation for Ichha Dam constructionand reimburse Odisha’s share cost of dam in time.”

” I am informed that a sum of Rs.1026.91 crore has been paid to Government of Jharkhand for the above works till date against the estimated share cost of Odisha of Rs.1208 crore (2016 Price level). Further, I am told that 36 villages of Odisha are affected under Ichha Dam reservoir sub-mergence area at FRL 225m. Accordingly, land acquisition and R&R work in Odisha portion have been taken up. As of now, 5196 ac of land (98%) out of 5283 ac has already been acquired. Rehabilitation assistance has been paid to i268 Project Affected Persons(PAPs) out of total identified 1369 PAPs, which is about 93%.

Stating that Chandil Dam across river Subarnarekha has been completed since long but water has been stored up to RL 181.50 m during monsoon against Full Reservoir Level of 192 m due to R&R issues, Patnaik has pointed out taht as full storage capacity has not been utilised in the dam during monsoon season, we are facing flood havoc more often.

The Odisha chief minister has sought the cooperation of his counterpart in Jharkhand for early completion of ichha dam for benefit of farmers of both the States and storage of water up to FRL in Chandil Dam in monsoon season for mitigation of flood in Odisha.