Chandrapur, a town in the Rayagada District of Odisha, faces a critical water crisis during the summer and pre-monsoon seasons due to low or delayed rainfall. This has severely affected the local agriculture and livelihoods of the people. Despite its rich heritage of traditional waterbodies like ponds and tanks, the region struggles to meet its water needs.
In response, the BCKIC Foundation, with support from the pan-IIT alumni network, IIT-IIT, launched the ‘Restore Promise of Water’ program. This initiative focuses on enhancing the water-holding capacity of Chandrapur’s tanks to combat water scarcity. Additionally, the program promotes the productive use of silt from these waterbodies to improve soil fertility, providing a sustainable boost to local agriculture and supporting the livelihoods of farmers in the region.
Details of the restoration efforts across six key tanks in the Chandrapur block:
Tank 1: Jugapadar
Location: Between Jugapadar and Nauduguda villages in Dangasorada Gram Panchayat
Restoration Period: February 27, 2023 – March 6, 2023