Orissa is endowed with water in abundance. T he state is drained by some great interstate rivers like Mahanadi, Brahmani, Suvarnrekha and some rivers all of which flow into the Bay of Bengal. The major river basins of Orissa are Suvarnrekha, Baitarani, Budhabalanga, Brahmani, Mahanadi, Rushikulya, Vansadhara, Bahuda, Indrabati, Nagabali and Kolab. As per latest survey by the year 2004, the total average water resources is 120397 MCM. Mahanadi River Basin covers maximum catchement area of 65628 sq.km having a length of 494 Km in Orissa. Second major river basin is Brahmani basin having 22516 Sq.Km of catchment area in Orissa. Similarly third major river basin is Baitarani Basin having 13482 Sq.Km of catchment area in Orissa. Major irrigation projects in Orissa established in river basins namely Hirakud, Rengali, Balimela, Upper Kolab, Indrabati, Jalaput and Salandi. The total irrigation potential created so far from all sources is about 39.31 lakh hectares by 2004-05.
The state can be hydrogeologically divided into consolidated, semi-consolidated & unconsolidated formations. The total replenishable ground water resource of the State is 20 BCM per year. Available ground water resources for irrigation is 17 BCM/yr. In storage fresh water resources is 175 BCM.
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