TNI Bureau: The proposed Ib River Dam Project, which is set to become Odisha’s second-largest dam, has become the centre of a political controversy as concerns grow over the displacement of nearly 40,000 people and the submergence of 10 villages. While the state government has moved ahead with preliminary work, local opposition has intensified, with even some leaders from the ruling party expressing reservations about the project.

The project was originally conceived in 1980 between two hills in Sundargada district with an estimated cost of around ₹1,200 crore. It aimed to provide irrigation facilities to nearly 1.06 lakh hectares of agricultural land across Talsara and Sundargada Assembly constituencies, as well as parts of neighbouring Jharsuguda district. However, strong opposition led by then Talsara MLA Gajadhar Majhi prevented the project from being implemented.

After nearly 46 years, the state government has revived plans to construct the dam. Following a visit to the proposed project site by a team from the Mahanadi Tribunal and representatives of the Odisha and Chhattisgarh governments, the project has been taken up for further consideration. The government has reportedly sanctioned ₹3 crore for survey and trenching work in the first phase.

If implemented, the dam will submerge more than 10,787 hectares of land across Odisha and Chhattisgarh, including 1,515 hectares of forest area. Ten villages—Panchamahala, Ragapali, Sudarshanpur, Malidihi, Gailo, Jagannathposh, Paisar, Hamirpur, Rinpur and Rashipatra—are expected to be completely submerged, while another 20 villages will be partially affected.

The project is expected to displace around 40,000 people. Despite concerns over displacement, supporters of the project describe it as a transformative initiative that could boost irrigation and agricultural productivity in the region, where farming remains the primary source of livelihood.

Political opposition to the project is also gathering momentum. Senior BJP leaders Ranjan Patel, Dhruva Kalo and Nrupa Dandsena recently submitted a memorandum to the Superintending Engineer of the Water Resources Department in Sundargarh opposing the project. A meeting held at Agharia Bhavan in Subdega also called for a mass movement against the dam, and preparations are underway for a larger protest.

With local resistance growing and divisions emerging even within the ruling party, the future of the Ib River Dam Project remains uncertain despite the government’s efforts to move it forward.