Decades old tech flaw leave Baitarani downstream parched

An alleged technical flaw dating back to 1980s, when construction of the Kanpur dam on Baitarani river began, has rendered the downstream of the river go parched. The construction of the dam, the second major river dam project in Odisha, is yet to complete.

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Sources said that the dam authorities, without making any alternative arrangements, have stopped the river’s flow and are now building a depletion switch. As a result, the complete cutoff of water is severely impacting both agriculture and industry on the downstream of the river.

The Baitarani River originates from the Gonasika hill in Keonjhar district, flowing over 360 km before merging with the Brahmani river near Dhamara in Bhadrak district, and ultimately draining into the Bay of Bengal. A major dam project at the river's upper catchment area, near Kanpur under Joda block in Keonjhar district, was commissioned in 1968. The construction began in 1980 and is on its last leg.