In Odisha, the Mahanadi River has the largest catchment area among the major rivers of Odisha. The most recent flood in Mahanadi was in early September, 2011 which drew intense media attention because it occurred within three years of the deluge of 2008. This flood event had several factors contributing to it including heavy rainfall, dam operation policy, tidal effects. There was a widespread feeling that disaster was at least partially man made. The same situation will obviously occur again unless major policy shifts are put in place on an urgent basis. In coastal parts of Odisha, the problem is compounded due to back flooding from the Chilika lake which brings saline water – this has completely routed the groundwater system and agriculture in this area. Most tube wells (down to >300 meters) yield saline water and people are forced to drink this water as there is no other source of fresh water. Some ponds that collect rainwater are not saline but the water is not suitable for drinking due to algal boom and water hyacinths and possibly some organic pollutants. A large part of agricultural land is now unusable due to waterlogging and soil salinity; some efforts to grow indigenous variety of rice that can stand flooding and salinity have yielded some results but the situation is far from satisfactory. A compilation of research papers on Odisha floods may be useful for the community.

• Jata, S.K., Nedunchezhiyan, M. Jata, N., 2011; “Flood and Risk Management strategy in Orissa.” Orissa Review. pp. 62–66. (download here)
• Chittibabu, P., Dube, S. K., Macnabb, J. B., Murty, T. S., Rao, A. D., Mohanty, U. C., Sinha, P. ,2004; “Mitigation of Flooding and Cyclone Hazard in Orissa, India.” Natural Hazards 31: pp.455–485. (download here)
• Khatua, K.K., Mahakul, B., 1999; “Flood in Mahanadi Delta Stage II Area –– A Case Study.” Published in Proceeding of National Disaster Management, UCE Buria. Orissa. Nov 12-13.(download here)
• Khatua, K.K., Panigrahi, S., 2001; “Flood and Cyclone in Coastal Orissa.” Conference on Disaster Management held at BITS, Pilani (Rajasthan). pp. 5-7. (download here)
• Taudia, D., Goel, S., 2013; “Rapid environmental impact assessment using remote sensing and geographic information systems: A case study of river Ib Barrage, Odisha.” Journal of Geoinformatics. Vol. 7. Issue I.  pp. 47–56. (download here)