Bargarh Main Canal

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Bargarh Main Canal is the main channel of the Hirakud Dam. It starts from the right bank near Burla and releases about 4,000 cubic feet per second (about 110 cubic meters per second) of water for irrigation and industry. The canal splits into two parts: a smaller branch runs from Katapali toward Bargarh town and then to the Bheden block, while the main branch goes straight to Barpali, Sonepur, and Bolangir. The Bheden block is the tail end of the canal and often faces water shortages.

Construction began during the Hirakud Dam project in the late 1950s. Today, the canal irrigates three districts: Bargarh, Bolangir, and Sonepur. The area under irrigation varies with the seasons (summer and winter).

A court case related to the canal’s early years occurred on 24 July 1956: Lalchand Topandas Wadhwani vs State, under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The convicted were later acquitted by the special judge.