Bhubaneswar: State Water Resources Department (DoWR) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with IIT, Guwahati to conduct a physical and mathematical river modeling study for the Brahmani River delta rejuvenation, informed an official Tuesday.
The MoU was signed by Bhakta Ranjan Mohanty of the department and Sibasish Dutta of IIT, Guwahati in the presence of DoWR, Commerce and Transport Minister Tukuni Sahu, and development commissioner-cumadditional chief secretary Anu Garg. “The MoU will help us with the construction of proposed instream storage structures (ISS) in the rivers which will ultimately ensure water availability to the people of the area,” said Minister Sahu at the signing event.
Notably, Brahmani, the 2nd largest river of Odisha, forms at the confluence of Sankha and South Koel rivers at Rourkela in Sundargarh. Catchment is contributed by Odisha (57 per cent), Jharkhand (40 per cent) and Chhatisgarh (3 per cent). The river flows through Sundargarh, Deogarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Jajpur and Kendrapara. At 130 km of the river’s flow, a dam has been constructed at Rengali and a barrage at Samal about 35 km downstream of Rengali Dam. The released water from Samal barrage, as well as that from intermediate catchment, flows into the deltaic area at Pankapal. Then the water bifurcates into two arms, Brahmani to the right and Kharasuan to the left. “Kharsuan draws major chunk of water flow as the Brahmani bed is at higher level compared to that of Kharsuan. This leads to continuous siltation and less or no flow even during medium flood as well as non monsoon period,” informed the official.
To ensure flow in both rivers, the department has proposed to take rejuvenation work through construction of Integrated ISS at Jenapur and Jokadia. “Model study is felt necessary prior to construction of the structures for ascertaining any unseen technical aspects for the proper functioning of the structures and proportionate distribution of flow to rejuvenate the river system,” said the official.
ARINDAM GANGULY, OP