Dikhyaa Mohanty 
To improve water availability and management throughout the state, the Odisha government said on Tuesday that it will build at least seven additional barrages on the Mahanadi River’s tributaries. The goal of this project is to alleviate water shortages and enhance the provision of drinking water and irrigation. In the State Assembly, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Rabi Narayan Naik presented this information, emphasizing that talks to further the project had already been undertaken with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. It is anticipated that building these barrages will greatly improve the management of water resources, assisting agriculture and guaranteeing a consistent supply of potable water.
To guarantee the uninterrupted and steady supply of Mahanadi River water into the state, the Odisha government is negotiating with neighboring Chhattisgarh in addition to the barrage project. Water input from Chhattisgarh has been considered at the official and ministerial levels, according to Minister Naik. While officials from both states have met to discuss interstate river water-sharing issues, Chief Minister Majhi has personally met with the minister of Chhattisgarh to settle the issue.
The suggested barrages are a component of a larger plan to guarantee sustainable water management and fortify Odisha’s water infrastructure. It is anticipated that this project would significantly alter the state’s total use of water resources, including irrigation and the supply of drinking water.
