What Caused the Collapse of the Kanpur Irrigation Project's Temporary Dam?
Collapse of Temporary Dam Raises Concerns
In Keonjhar district's Joda block, a temporary earthen dam associated with the Kanpur Irrigation Project (KIP) collapsed on Thursday due to heavy rainfall linked to a low-pressure system. This incident resulted in floodwaters overflowing the under-construction main dam into the Baitarani River, raising concerns about potential flooding downstream. Water was observed rushing over the partially constructed sluice gates, which were meant to manage water flow.
Local residents have expressed frustration over delays attributed to technical issues in the dam's construction. Although the Kanpur project and the Baitarani embankment began under the previous administration, work on the sluice gates had not commenced. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had previously pledged to complete the project by June 2025, but it was revealed that the sluice gates were still not built as the project neared completion.
Following discussions with a technical team, the state government decided to proceed with the construction of the sluice gates. Work on the cofferdam began in May, effectively blocking water flow. The sluice gates were to be constructed using plastic concrete, with hopes of finishing by August.
However, heavy rainfall on June 17 and 18, along with continuous downpours in Joda, caused the Suna River to swell, filling the reservoir to capacity. Fearing the cofferdam's imminent collapse, authorities evacuated workers and relocated heavy machinery from the construction site. Unfortunately, their fears were realized when the cofferdam collapsed on Thursday. Prasad Ranjan Panda, Chief Construction Engineer of KIP, stated that the main dam was not at risk from the cofferdam's failure, but the construction of the sluice gates has been delayed until the rain subsides.
Ongoing construction has been halted due to persistent rainfall, which has led to an intense 450 mm of precipitation in June alone, disrupting all infrastructure projects in the area. The reservoir has inundated 2,511.266 hectares, reaching a maximum depth of 39.50 meters, with water flowing into it at a rate of 249.596 cubic meters per second. Following the cofferdam's collapse, floodwaters breached the under-construction embankment, necessitating diversion through an emergency outflow channel at a rate of 336.875 cubic meters per second.
Officials have indicated that the state government is prioritizing the completion of the embankment under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme. However, the absence of sluice gates for water drainage in previous years has cast doubt on the project's future. Local residents are questioning why such a vital component was overlooked initially and are calling for an investigation into the repeated delays.
The Kanpur dam project, which was initiated nearly 30 years ago, has seen the foundation stone laid by three chief ministers: Biju Patnaik, Janaki Ballav Patnaik, and Naveen Patnaik. Despite its significance as the second-largest irrigation facility in the state, it remains incomplete and is expected to provide water to over 29,000 hectares of farmland across 244 villages in five blocks of Keonjhar district.