Narsinghpur: Despite being proposed and the foundation stone laid over two years ago, the Subalaya Barrage project is yet to begin construction. The barrage, once completed, will connect Dimiria in Narsinghpur block of Cuttack district with Rautapada in Gania block of Nayagarh district. On March 2, 2023, the then Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid the foundation stone for the project via virtual mode.
However, no physical progress has been made in these two years. If the construction of this barrage does not begin soon, it could impact the mega drinking water and irrigation project in Badamba-Narsinghpur, which depends on water from the Mahanadi river. There is concern that the government’s investment of ₹600 crore might go to waste due to lack of water.
After the project was approved by the Technical Approval Committee, ₹40 lakh was sanctioned for preparing the design and estimate, out of which ₹26 lakh has already been spent. Yet, despite this, construction has not commenced.
Historical Background:
In 1960, a plan was made to construct a reservoir on the Mahanadi river near Tikarpada as a second unit of the Hirakud reservoir.
The proposed reservoir would submerge:
70,850 hectares in Athmallik (Angul district) and Boudh district, located 80–90 meters above sea level.
The Manibhadra Dam proposal that followed estimated submergence of 60,750 hectares, and it was given a green signal after assessments.
The dam was expected to control floods and generate hydroelectric power in the Mahanadi delta. However, the plan remained shelved.
A major flood in 1982 caused severe damage in Narsinghpur, which reawakened the state’s focus on flood control.
In 1984–85, a Mahanadi Division office was opened in Narsinghpur to begin detailed survey work.
The Manibhadra Dam, if constructed, was estimated to affect over 83,375 people from 13,582 families across Angul, Nayagarh, and Boudh districts, with 1,079 families from 10 villages to be displaced.
Subalaya Proposal Gains Ground:
Due to local opposition to the Manibhadra Dam, people demanded an alternative—construction of barrages at Subalaya, Naraj, and Jobra instead of a massive dam. These barrages would help in:
Groundwater recharge
Ensuring success of irrigation and drinking water projects
Supporting fishing livelihoods
After nearly 30 years, the idea of Subalaya Barrage resurfaced. In 2015–16, The Prameya first reported the proposal. It gained urgency after Chhattisgarh built multiple dams and barrages upstream, restricting Mahanadi’s water flow.
Survey and testing of soil and rocks were carried out at two proposed locations:
From Dimiria to Rautapada
From Subalaya to Dankarisahi
Based on technical feasibility, the barrage location was finalized to be between Dimiria and Rautapada.
In 2022, the project received a green signal. A team conducted field surveys, and in 2023 the foundation stone was laid. But since the change in government, with the BJP replacing BJD, there has been no further progress.
Importance of the Barrage:
Once completed, the Subalaya Barrage will:
Improve transport connectivity between Cuttack, Nayagarh, and Boudh districts
Help in flood control, irrigation, drinking water supply, and groundwater recharge
Most importantly, the future of the mega drinking water project in Badamba-Narsinghpur block—being built at a cost of ₹217 crore—depends on the completion of this barrage. Without sufficient water from Mahanadi, this project will fail, leaving:
227 villages across 38 panchayats in Badamba block, and
204 villages across 35 panchayats in Narsinghpur block
without safe drinking water.
In this context, local residents have demanded that the new state government immediately begin construction of the Subalaya Barrage to safeguard their water needs and development plans.
No responses yet