Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has rolled out a comprehensive contingency plan to safeguard farmers and ensure uninterrupted power supply amid weak monsoon conditions and low water levels in major reservoirs.
At a high-level review meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, alongside senior officials from Energy, Water Resources, and Agriculture departments, strict guidelines were issued to conserve reservoir reserves exclusively for drinking water and agriculture before allocating any water for power generation.
The Deputy CM emphasised that the temporary halt in hydropower generation at Balimela is a responsible step to protect agricultural stability. He reassured citizens that the State’s power grid remains stable through strategic alternative procurement.
The departments are closely monitoring reservoirs to preserve water for the kharif cycle. The Energy Department, GRIDCO, and OHPC have activated an alternative procurement framework, coordinating with SLDC, RLDC, and NLDC to secure power from external grids.
Meanwhile, the State Government has initiated fast-tracked bilateral talks with Andhra Pradesh for early restoration of Machkund units. The government reiterated its commitment to remain vigilant, adaptive, and proactive in managing water and energy resources.