In order to prevent further damage, the Odisha government has increased restoration efforts on flood-damaged dams, embankments, and irrigation structures throughout the state. On Sunday, the Water Resources Department began repairs on a war footing and put vulnerable river systems under constant surveillance. Senior engineers have been sent by the department to assess impacted locations and keep an eye on restoration efforts as floodwaters subside. Heavy equipment, building supplies, and labor have already been used to repair temporary breaches near Brahmacharipatna on the Kani Right Bank in the Jajpur district and at Kimiria along the Brahmani River.
Embankments in the districts of Cuttack, Puri, Khurda, and Jagatsinghpur along the Daya, Rajua, Makara, Bhargavi, Mahanadi, Kusabhadra, and Devi rivers are continuously monitored. To reduce the possibility of more breaches, vulnerable areas found during the floods have been reinforced. Engineer-in-Chief Er. Dillip Kumar Rout chaired a high-level meeting at the Flood Cell on Sunday to examine the ongoing restoration effort. Senior chief engineers evaluated the state’s restoration efforts, river flows, downstream conditions, the Hirakud reservoir’s management, and the flood scenario.
The Engineer-in-Chief directed all field divisions to remain on high alert, maintain continuous surveillance, and ensure an immediate response to any emergency. Engineering teams have also been instructed to keep equipment and manpower ready for rapid deployment in the event of any fresh exigency. As part of the review, the Engineer-in-Chief visited embankments and irrigation structures under the Khurda Irrigation Division along with the Additional Chief Engineer of the Central Circle, the Flood Nodal Officer and other field officials to assess restoration work on the ground. The Kopsingha In-Stream Storage (ISS) project under the Sundargarh Irrigation Division was also inspected.
