Irrigation Projects of Odisha

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IDCO InfoCity SEZ (IT/ITES), Bhubaneswar:
- Type: Sector-specific (IT/ITES).
- Location: Chandaka Industrial Estate, Bhubaneswar.
- Developer: Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Odisha (IDCO).
- Significance: A hub for IT and IT-enabled services companies. Often referred to as Infocity-I or Knowledge Park. There’s also an Infocity-II project being developed.
Jindal Stainless Ltd. (JSL) SEZ, Kalinga Nagar:
- Type: Sector-specific (Stainless Steel and ancillary downstream industries).
- Location: Kalinga Nagar Industrial Complex, Jajpur district.
- Significance: Focuses on value addition in the metals sector, leveraging Odisha’s mineral resources.
Vedanta Alumina SEZ, Jharsuguda:
- Type: Sector-specific (Aluminum and Aluminum Downstream).
- Location: Jharsuguda.
- Significance: Crucial for the state’s large aluminum industry.
Tata Steel SEZ / Gopalpur Industrial Park (SEZ), Ganjam:
- Type: Multi-Product SEZ.
- Location: Gopalpur, Ganjam district.
- Significance: Part of Tata Steel’s integrated industrial park, focusing on various manufacturing activities, including ferro-alloys and other downstream industries. This is a significant industrial hub.
Lanco Solar SEZ, Cuttack (Ramdaspur):
- Type: Sector-specific (Solar).
- Location: Ramdaspur, Cuttack.
- Significance: Aimed at boosting renewable energy manufacturing.
HINDALCO SEZ, Rengali (Sambalpur):
- Type: Sector-specific (Aluminum and ancillary).
- Location: Rengali, Sambalpur.
POSCO SEZ, Paradip (Jagatsinghpur):
- Type: Multi-Product (originally planned for steel).
- Location: Paradip, Jagatsinghpur.
- Note: This project has seen significant changes and delays. While initially envisioned as a major steel SEZ, its status and full operationalization should be cross-checked with the latest official sources. It’s important to know its historical significance in Odisha’s industrial landscape.

Other Potential/Proposed SEZs (Stay updated with current news):

There might be other smaller IT/ITES SEZs approved for specific companies in Bhubaneswar and other cities.
The State Government also has a Policy for Special Economic Zones, 2015, which outlines the incentives and procedures for setting up SEZs in Odisha, and identifies thrust sectors like Biotechnology, Electronic System Design and Manufacturing, Automobiles, etc.

5. Challenges and Concerns (General SEZ Context)

While SEZs offer significant advantages, they also face challenges:

Land Acquisition: Difficulties in acquiring sufficient contiguous land, especially fertile agricultural land.
Revenue Loss: Concerns over revenue loss to the exchequer due to tax exemptions.
Diversion of existing units: Some domestic firms might shift base to SEZs just for tax benefits without generating truly new economic activity.
Underutilization: Some notified SEZs have remained underutilized.
Global economic slowdowns: Can impact the demand for products from export-oriented SEZs.

6. Importance for OPSC Exam

Static GK: Knowing the major SEZs in Odisha and their locations.
Current Affairs: Any new SEZ proposals, approvals, operational milestones, or policy changes related to SEZs in Odisha are important.
Economy Section: Understanding the role of SEZs in industrial development, export promotion, FDI attraction, and employment generation in Odisha’s economy.
Governance: The role of state government and IDCO in facilitating SEZs.

To prepare effectively:

Memorize the names, locations, and primary sectors of the prominent SEZs in Odisha.
Understand the objectives and key provisions of the SEZ Act, 2005.
Stay updated with the Odisha Economic Survey and Industrial Policy for the latest developments related to SEZs in the state.

Sources

Irrigation Projects of Odisha | Download Odisha General Knowledge PDF

Understanding the major irrigation projects in Odisha is vital for the OPSC exam, especially for the Geography and Economy sections. Odisha, being primarily an agrarian state, relies heavily on irrigation for its agricultural productivity.

Irrigation Projects of Odisha: Notes for OPSC Exam

1. Importance of Irrigation in Odisha

Agricultural Backbone: Agriculture is the primary livelihood for a majority of Odisha’s population. Irrigation ensures water supply for crops, especially during dry seasons and monsoon failures.
Food Security: Enhances crop yields, contributing to food security for the state.
Economic Development: Boosts rural economy, creates employment, and supports agro-based industries.
Drought Mitigation: Helps in mitigating the effects of droughts in frequently drought-prone areas.
Multipurpose Benefits: Many projects serve multiple purposes, including flood control, hydroelectric power generation, and drinking water supply, in addition to irrigation.

2. Types of Irrigation Projects

Irrigation projects are generally categorized based on the Culturable Command Area (CCA) they serve:

Major Irrigation Projects: CCA more than 10,000 hectares. (e.g., Hirakud, Indravati)
Medium Irrigation Projects: CCA between 2,000 and 10,000 hectares. (e.g., Salandi, Pitamahal)
Minor Irrigation Projects: CCA less than 2,000 hectares. (e.g., check dams, lift irrigation points, community tanks)

3. Major Irrigation Projects of Odisha

Odisha has several significant irrigation projects, often multipurpose, playing a critical role in its development.

Hirakud Dam Project:
- River: Mahanadi River.
- Location: Near Sambalpur.
- Significance: India’s first major multipurpose river valley project post-independence (inaugurated 1957). It’s one of the longest earthen dams in the world (total length including dykes: 25.79 km).
- Purposes:
  - Irrigation: Irrigates vast areas in Sambalpur, Bargarh, Bolangir, and Sonepur districts.
  - Flood Control: Controls floods in the Mahanadi delta.
  - Power Generation: Has hydroelectric power houses (Burla and Chipilima).
  - Fisheries & Navigation: Supports inland fisheries and limited navigation.
- Reservoir: Hirakud Reservoir (Hirakud Lake) – one of the largest artificial lakes in Asia. Declared a Ramsar site in 2021.
Upper Indravati Multipurpose Project:
- River: Indravati River (a tributary of Godavari).
- Location: Kalahandi and Nabarangpur districts (main dam on Indravati, other dams on its tributaries like Podagada, Kapur, Muran).
- Significance: A major inter-basin water transfer project, diverting water from the Godavari basin to the Mahanadi basin (via the Hati River).
- Purposes:
  - Irrigation: Irrigates significant areas in the drought-prone Kalahandi district.
  - Power Generation: Has a large hydroelectric power plant (Khatiguda).
  - Addressing Regional Imbalance: Crucial for the development of the backward Kalahandi region.
Mahanadi Delta Irrigation Project:
- River: Mahanadi River (distributaries in the delta region).
- Location: Coastal districts like Cuttack, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada.
- Significance: A vast network of canals, branches off from the Mahanadi and its distributaries (e.g., Kathajodi, Kuakhai, Birupa). It’s one of the oldest and most extensive irrigation systems in the state.
- Purpose: Primarily irrigation of vast agricultural lands in the delta region. Also helps in flood management.
Rengali Dam Project:
- River: Brahmani River.
- Location: Angul district.
- Purposes:
  - Irrigation: Provides irrigation through its Left Bank Canal (LBC) and Right Bank Canal (RBC) systems.
  - Power Generation: Has a hydroelectric power plant.
  - Flood Moderation: Helps in controlling floods in the Brahmani basin.
Subarnarekha Multipurpose Project:
- River: Subarnarekha River.
- Location: Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts (Odisha portion). It’s an inter-state project with Jharkhand and West Bengal.
- Significance: Aims to provide irrigation and flood control in the northern districts.
Salandi Project:
- River: Salandi River (tributary of Baitarani).
- Location: Keonjhar and Bhadrak districts.
- Purpose: Primarily irrigation.
Anandapur Barrage Project:
- River: Baitarani River.
- Location: Keonjhar and Bhadrak districts.
- Purpose: Provides irrigation to agricultural lands in these districts, often seen as an extension of the Baitarani System.
Upper Kolab Project:
- River: Kolab River (tributary of Godavari).
- Location: Koraput district.
- Purposes: Irrigation and hydroelectric power generation.

4. Other Important Irrigation Initiatives and Concepts

Pani Panchayat: A community-based participatory irrigation management initiative in Odisha. Farmers’ associations (Pani Panchayats) are empowered to manage water distribution within their command areas, promoting efficient water use. Enacted under the Pani Panchayat Act, 2002.
Lift Irrigation Projects: Utilizes pumps to lift water from rivers or other sources to higher agricultural lands not covered by gravity flow canals. Odisha has a significant number of Mega Lift Irrigation Projects (MLIPs) to expand irrigation coverage.
Deep Bore Wells: Increasing reliance on groundwater through bore wells, especially in areas not covered by surface irrigation.
Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture (OIIPCRA): A World Bank-supported project aimed at enhancing irrigation infrastructure and promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices, often focusing on rehabilitation of minor irrigation tanks.
In-stream Storage Structures (ISS): Small dams or barrages constructed across rivers to store water locally for various uses, including irrigation.

Name	Basin	Type
Anandpur Barrage Canal Irrigation Project	Brahmani and Baitarani	Major
Baitarani Major Irrigation Project	Brahmani and Baitarani	Major
Mahanadi Birupa Barrage Major Irrigation Project	Mahanadi	Major
Narai Barrage Major Irrigation Project	Mahanadi	Major
Potteru Major Irrigation Project	Godavari	Major
Rusikulya System Major Irrigation Project	East flowing rivers between Mahanadi and Pennar	Major
Salandi Major Irrigation Project	Brahmani and Baitarani	Major
Salki Major Irrigation Project	Mahanadi	Major
Sunei Major Irrigation Project	Subarnarekha	Major
Upper Indravati Multi-purpose Project	Godavari, Mahanadi	Major
Upper Kolab Major Irrigation Project	Godavari	Major