The projects, spread across five districts, are expected to improve water availability, recharge groundwater and support rural livelihoods, benefiting nearly 72,000 people in 74 villages, an official statement said.The Dhuanpadar, Muralijore and Revatiguda projects are expected to create more opportunities in fisheries and related activities, helping raise rural incomes. (Representative image)Bhubaneswar,Nov 13, 2026 14:32 ISTThe Odisha government has approved five in-stream storage structure projects worth Rs 625.47 crore to improve water security and help communities cope with climate-related challenges, news agency Press Trust of India reported.The projects, spread across Rayagada, Kalahandi, Ganjam, Balangir and Sonepur districts, are expected to improve water availability for nearly 72,000 people in 74 villages. They will also help recharge groundwater and support rural livelihoods, according to an official statement.The approved projects are the Dhuanpadar structure on the Vansadhara river and the Revatiguda structure on the Nagavali river in Rayagada district; the Bhimpur structure on the Bahuda river in Ganjam district; the Muralijore structure near Nijharidara village in Bhawanipatna block of Kalahandi district; and the Kutasingha barrage across the Ong river, a major tributary of the Mahanadi, which will benefit communities in Balangir and Sonepur districts.“These structures will help conserve monsoon water within river channels, ensuring greater availability of water during the lean season.
The stored water will also facilitate groundwater recharge, improve the sustainability of wells and borewells and strengthen the resilience of water-stressed communities,” a senior water resources department official told Press Trust of India. Apart from meeting domestic water needs, the projects will support irrigation, livestock rearing and other rural livelihood activities.The Dhuanpadar, Muralijore and Revatiguda projects are also expected to create more opportunities in fisheries and related activities, helping raise rural incomes.
The projects are part of the state government's intensified in-stream storage structure programme since 2024, which focuses on water conservation, sustainable management of resources and adaptation to climate-related challenges.Overall, the five projects are expected to conserve monsoon water, improve supplies during the dry season, recharge groundwater, support river ecosystems and strengthen the long-term water security of communities across the five districts.- Ends