States » EastPosted at: Sep 19 2026 4:21PM


Ensure Cuttack’s water security before supplying Mahanadi water to Silicon Valley, Data centre: Mahanadi Bachao Andolan

Bhubaneswar, Sep 19 (UNI) The Mahanadi Bachao Andolan(MBA) on Saturday urged the Odisha government to ensure Cuttack’s water security before allocating Mahanadi water for the proposed Odisha Silicon Valley and a planned data centre at Naraj, warning that large-scale industrial withdrawals could affect the river’s flow and the water needs of downstream areas.
The organisation’s convenor Sudarshan Das said the Mahanadi could not be treated as an unlimited source of water for industrial development and called for a scientific assessment of the river’s water availability before allocating water to the proposed projects.
The state government has announced plans to establish the Odisha Silicon Valley over 870 acres at Naraj in Cuttack, where several semiconductor, IT and electronics projects are proposed to come up.
Das said such projects would require substantial quantities of water and alleged that the government appeared to be planning the Silicon Valley with an eye on drawing water from the Mahanadi.
He said the concern had increased with the proposal for a 1-GW AI data centre by the Adani Group, involving an investment of around Rs 1 lakh crore, with Cuttack being considered as a potential location.
The proposed data centre would also require substantial quantities of water, he said, adding that no site should be selected or water allocated for the project without a clear assessment of its actual water requirement and the availability of water at the proposed location.
Das referred to the Orissa High Court's order in the IOCL case concerning the lifting of Mahanadi water upstream of the Jobra Barrage for the Paradip refinery, saying the court had expressed concern over the impact of industrial water withdrawal on irrigation and Cuttack’s drinking water requirements.
According to Das, the court order permitted IOCL to draw 40 million gallons of water per day, equivalent to around 73.2 cusecs, subject to water availability during the non-monsoon and deficit periods.
The order demonstrated the sensitivity of withdrawing water from the Mahanadi and the importance of protecting Cuttack’s water security, he said.
Das said the issue also needed to be viewed in the context of the Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal, where technical proceedings are examining the availability of Mahanadi water, its existing utilisation and future requirements.
While Odisha was fighting before the tribunal for its equitable share of Mahanadi water, the state should not simultaneously commit water for large industrial projects without assessing their impact on the river’s future water balance, he said.
He also referred to findings from research by the Department of Geology of Ravenshaw University on the Mahanadi stretch between Naraj and Jobra, saying the study had heightened concerns over Cuttack’s water security.
The study covers issues including changes in the river’s course, formation of sandbars and the impact of sand mining and has reportedly warned that Cuttack residents could face a severe water crisis in the future, Das said.
The Mahanadi Bachao Andolan questioned whether the government intended to expose the people of Cuttack to water scarcity by diverting Mahanadi water for industrial purposes, including the proposed Silicon Valley and data centre.
Das demanded a scientific water-balance study covering the proposed Silicon Valley and data centre, existing industrial water allocations and Cuttack’s future drinking water requirements.
The study should specifically establish the reliable availability of Mahanadi water during the deficit period from December to May and determine the quantity that could be made available for industrial use after meeting drinking water, irrigation, environmental and downstream requirements, he said.
“No water should be allocated from the Mahanadi for new large industries without conducting such a study and making its findings publicly available,” Das said.
The Mahanadi Bachao Andolan will organise a seminar in Cuttack on “Cuttack’s Water Security and the Proposed Odisha Silicon Valley”, where hydrologists, geologists, academics, water-resource experts, environmental organisations and members of the public will participate, he said.
“Odisha needs investment and technology. However, industrial development should not come at the cost of Cuttack’s future water security and the environmental security of the Mahanadi,” Das said.
UNI DP
Tags: #Ensure Cuttack’s water security before supplying Mahanadi water to Silicon Valley# Data centre: Mahanadi Bachao Andolan
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