Safety Concerns Over Hirakud Dam Raised in Odisha Assembly

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly on Thursday witnessed a serious discussion over the safety of the Hirakud Dam, following concerns raised by Deputy Leader of Opposition Prasanna Acharya during Zero Hour.

Acharya highlighted that last year’s assessment recorded a 27% decline in the reservoir’s water-holding capacity, attributing the reduction to heavy silt accumulation. He warned that inadequate maintenance of the dam could pose a major threat to both Odisha and the nation in the coming years.

He also criticised the allocation of land near the reservoir to companies for large hotel projects, stating that such decisions overlooked the critical safety requirements of one of India’s most important dams.

Minister Responds

Replying to the concerns, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari acknowledged the seriousness of the issue. He said the Centre had already framed a Dam Safety Act between 2019 and 2024, and he had discussed the matter with the Union Jal Shakti Minister.

Pujari informed the House that a Japanese firm had earlier been engaged for silt removal, but the process remained incomplete due to the presence of trees inside the dam area. He added that the state government had apprised the Centre of the situation.

The minister assured that work to strengthen the dam’s safety measures is currently underway.