Description

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Context

The unfinished bridge over Brahmani River highlights infrastructure challenges in rural Odisha affecting daily commutes, education & healthcare access for thousands.

Brahmani River

Brahmani River is one of major rivers in eastern India primarily flowing through state of Odisha & parts of Jharkhand. It is second longest river in Odisha with a total length of approximately 799 km.

The river is formed by the confluence of the Sankh & South Koel rivers near Rourkela in Odisha.

Brahmani River originates in Chotanagpur Plateau (Jharkhand) & flows through Rourkela, Talcher, Dhenkanal, Jajpur before finally merging into Bay of Bengal near Dhamra.

Major tributaries include:

Sankh River – Originates in Jharkhand & meets Koel River.

South Koel River – Originates in Jharkhand & merges with Sankh to form Brahmani.

Karo River – A tributary from Keonjhar district.

Birupa River – A distributary that merges with Mahanadi River.

Economic and Cultural Importance:

Agriculture – The river supports irrigation for thousands of hectares in Jharkhand & Odisha aiding in rice, sugarcane & vegetable cultivation.

Industries – Brahmani basin houses Rourkela Steel Plant, Talcher Coalfields & Kalinganagar Industrial Hub making it an industrial lifeline.

Fisheries – The river supports a thriving fishing industry especially in coastal Odisha.

Religious Significance – Several temples & religious sites such as Akhadachandi Temple in Dhenkanal are located along its banks.

Environmental Concerns:

Pollution: Industrial waste from Rourkela & Talcher contributes to high levels of pollution in river.

Deforestation & Soil Erosion: Deforestation in catchment areas has led to increased soil erosion & siltation.

Floods: Heavy monsoons often cause floods in low-lying areas of Jajpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak districts.

Dams & Barrages: Rengali Dam on Brahmani River is crucial for hydroelectric power & irrigation but has altered natural flow.

Associated Landmarks:

Category	Details
Length	~799 km
Origin	Confluence of Sankh and South Koel Rivers, near Rourkela, Odisha
States Covered	Jharkhand, Odisha
Major Cities	Rourkela, Talcher, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Bhadrak
Tributaries	Sankh, South Koel, Karo, Birupa, Kimiria, Tikira, Gohira
Dams and Barrages	Rengali Dam, Samal Barrage
Reservoirs	Rengali Reservoir
National Parks	Bhitarkanika National Park (near the Brahmani delta)
Wildlife Sanctuaries	Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, Hadagarh Wildlife Sanctuary
Wetlands	Brahmani-Baitarani Delta Wetlands
Irrigation Projects	Rengali Irrigation Project, Talcher Irrigation Canal
Industries Along the River	Rourkela Steel Plant, Talcher Coalfields, Kalinganagar Industrial Hub
Flood-Prone Districts	Jajpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak
Major Bridges	Brahmabarada Bridge (under construction), Jenapur Bridge, Panposh Bridge (Rourkela)

National Waterway 5 (NW-5)

National Waterway 5 (NW-5) is one of India six designated national waterways developed to enhance inland water transport.

It covers a stretch of 588 km across Odisha & West Bengal integrating key river systems like Brahmani, Mahanadi Delta & East Coast Canal.

Feature	Details
Length	588 km
States Covered	Odisha, West Bengal
Rivers Involved	Brahmani, Mahanadi, and East Coast Canal
Start Point	Talcher (Odisha)
End Point	Geonkhali (West Bengal)
Major Cities & Ports	Dhamra, Paradip, Kalinganagar, Bhadrak, Haldia
Connectivity	Links with NW-1 (Ganga) and NW-4 (Godavari-Krishna)
Commodities Transported	Coal, iron ore, minerals, fertilizers, agricultural produce
Economic Importance	Supports coal and mineral transport for industrial hubs like Talcher, Kalinganagar, and Paradip Port
Infrastructure Development	Terminals, dredging, navigational aids, barge movement facilities

Role of Brahmani River in NW-5:

Brahmani River forms a part of NW-5 stretch supporting transportation of coal, minerals & industrial goods from Talcher to Paradip & Dhamra Ports.

The river section requires regular dredging to maintain navigability especially during dry seasons.

Key locations along Brahmani stretch include Talcher, Kalinganagar, Bhadrak, Jajpur which are industrial hubs dependent on waterway transport.

Key Features of Biju Setu Yojana

Feature	Details
Launched	2011
Implementing Agency	Rural Development Department, Government of Odisha
Objective	To provide all-weather connectivity by constructing bridges in rural and remote areas.
Target Areas	Unconnected villages, gram panchayats, and important economic hubs.
Types of Bridges	Small and medium-sized bridges on rural roads.
Funding	Entirely state-funded (not under central schemes like PMGSY).
Project Cost	₹3,000+ crore allocated since inception.
Total Bridges Planned	Over 1,000 bridges planned and sanctioned.
Completed Bridges	More than 800 bridges completed across Odisha.
Impact	Improved connectivity for villages, better access to markets, schools, hospitals, and economic zones.

For more details, refer to IAS GYAN

Sources:

NEW INDIAN EXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Analyze significance of rivers in regional development & discuss challenges faced in implementing infrastructure projects along their course particularly in context of National Waterways.