Rushikulya Irrigation System: It is an integrated project constructed in 1891 by the British Empire to mitigate the drought problem in Ganjam District. It consists of (1) Bhanjanagar reservoir across Baranga Nalla, a tributary of Badanadi near Bhanjanagar, (2) Sorada reservoir on a small Nalla near Sorada, (3) Sorisamuli Anicut across river Badanadi, a tributary of Rushikulya at Sorisamuli to divert the water of Badanadi to Bhanjanagar Reservoir (4) Padma Anicut across river Padma, a tributary of Rushikulya at Sorada to divert the water of Padma to Sorada reservoir (5) Madhabarida Anicut across river Badanadi near Madhabarida to divert Badanadi water to Janivilli Anicut. (6) Janivilli Anicut at Janivilli across river Rushikulya diverting water for providing irrigation through Rushikulya Main Canal. Out of the above, the renovation of Sorada Reservoir and Bhanjanagar Reservoir was taken up under DSARP in the year 1999 by raising of FRL of both the reservoir and replacement of fall board shutters of Spillway of both the reservoir by un-gated ogee spillway for Sorada Reservoir and vertical gated spillway for Bhanjanagar Reservoir. The Padma Anicut & Sorisamuli Anicut were replaced by the construction of a new Barrage under DSARP.

1. Russelkonda Reservoir (Bhanjanagar Reservoir), 2. Sorada Reservoir, 3.  Janivilli Anicut, 4.  Madhabarida Anicut (Ghumusar Anicut)

The structure represents a milestone / turning points in development of irrigated agriculture and bears an exceptional testimony to development of agriculture and increase in food production along with the improvement of economic condition of farmers;

Rushikulya Irrigation System is a well-planned integrated System comprising two medium size reservoirs and four numbers of Anicut. The District of Ganjam, previously under Madras presidency during British Rule, was a chronic drought-affected district. It was severely affected by famine during 1865-66, and 60,000 people perished either of starvation or of diseases induced due to starvation. Again, a similar famine occurred during 1871-72. In view of this, the then British Ruler of India deployed Major Buckley, a Civil Engineer, to study the feasibility of an irrigation project by harnessing the water of river Rushikulya and its tributaries. Major Buckley made a detailed survey of the upper reaches of river Rushikulya and its tributaries and submitted a report to Govt. of India. While the Project was still under investigation, again, one more famine was apprehended in 1879 and Govt. of India sanctioned the project in their letter No. 266-1 dating. 06.06.1883 as famine protection work. The work of the project started in 1884 and an estimated cost of `28, 60,239 /-. The cost of the project was revised thrice, and the project was completed in the year 1896, providing irrigation to 43,423.715 Ha in Kharif. The capital account of the Project was closed on 31.03.1901 at a final cost of Rs. 4945820/-. 

The structure made outstanding contribution to enhancing food production, livelihood opportunities, rural prosperity, and poverty alleviation in a region;

Rushikulya Irrigation System is a well-planned integrated System comprising two medium size reservoirs and four numbers of Anicut. The District of Ganjam, previously under Madras presidency during British Rule, was a chronic drought-affected district. It was severely affected by famine during 1865-66, and 60,000 people perished either of starvation or of diseases induced due to starvation. Again, a similar famine occurred during 1871-72. In view of this, the then British Ruler of India deployed Major Buckley, a Civil Engineer, to study the feasibility of an irrigation project by harnessing the water of river Rushikulya and its tributaries. Major Buckley made a detailed survey of the upper reaches of river Rushikulya and its tributaries and submitted a report to Govt. of India. While the Project was still under investigation, again, one more famine was apprehended in 1879 and Govt. of India sanctioned the project in their letter No. 266-1 dating. 06.06.1883 as famine protection work. The work of the project started in 1884 and an estimated cost of `28, 60,239 /-. The cost of the project was revised thrice, and the project was completed in the year 1896, providing irrigation to 43,423.715 Ha in Kharif. The capital account of the Project was closed on 31.03.1901 at a final cost of Rs. 4945820/-. 

The structure was unique in some positive and constructive way;

Rushikulya Irrigation System is a well-planned integrated System comprising two medium size reservoirs and four numbers of Anicut. The District of Ganjam, previously under Madras presidency during British Rule, was a chronic drought-affected district. It was severely affected by famine during 1865-66, and 60,000 people perished either of starvation or of diseases induced due to starvation. Again, a similar famine occurred during 1871-72. In view of this, the then British Ruler of India deployed Major Buckley, a Civil Engineer, to study the feasibility of an irrigation project by harnessing the water of river Rushikulya and its tributaries. Major Buckley made a detailed survey of the upper reaches of river Rushikulya and its tributaries and submitted a report to Govt. of India. While the Project was still under investigation, again, one more famine was apprehended in 1879 and Govt. of India sanctioned the project in their letter No. 266-1 dating. 06.06.1883 as famine protection work. The work of the project started in 1884 and an estimated cost of `28, 60,239 /-. The cost of the project was revised thrice, and the project was completed in the year 1896, providing irrigation to 43,423.715 Ha in Kharif. The capital account of the Project was closed on 31.03.1901 at a final cost of Rs. 4945820/-. 

The structure bears the stamp of a cultural tradition or a civilization of past;

Rushikulya Irrigation System is a well-planned integrated System comprising two medium size reservoirs and four numbers of Anicut. The District of Ganjam, previously under Madras presidency during British Rule, was a chronic drought-affected district. It was severely affected by famine during 1865-66, and 60,000 people perished either of starvation or of diseases induced due to starvation. Again, a similar famine occurred during 1871-72. In view of this, the then British Ruler of India deployed Major Buckley, a Civil Engineer, to study the feasibility of an irrigation project by harnessing the water of river Rushikulya and its tributaries. Major Buckley made a detailed survey of the upper reaches of river Rushikulya and its tributaries and submitted a report to Govt. of India. While the Project was still under investigation, again, one more famine was apprehended in 1879 and Govt. of India sanctioned the project in their letter No. 266-1 dating. 06.06.1883 as famine protection work. The work of the project started in 1884 and an estimated cost of `28, 60,239 /-. The cost of the project was revised thrice, and the project was completed in the year 1896, providing irrigation to 43,423.715 Ha in Kharif. The capital account of the Project was closed on 31.03.1901 at a final cost of Rs. 4945820/-. 

Engineering utility vis-à-vis designed utility

This is a century-old integrated project. This project has made an outstanding contribution to the socioeconomic development of the Ganjam district. Gradually food production increased, and famine eroded in this area. People got opportunities, got livelihood, got prosperity above all, got life. Now the district is well known for its food grain production and its export. Agriculture forms the backbone of the district’s economy, with more than 70 % of the population being dependent on it. The agricultural sector supplies about 75 % of the total workforce of the Ganjam District, and this historic Rushikulya irrigation system plays a major role in it.

Present State of Conservation

During a severe cyclonic storm, TITILI and subsequently flood on 11.10.2018, the different components of Janivilli anicut such as d/s apron, left-wing & retaining wall, the stone masonry cut-off walls and left embankment were damaged severely. As per the request of the Chief Engineer & Basin Manager, RVN Basin, the technical committee inspected the site on 17.12.2018 and suggested the following remedial measures.

(1) 1st d/s apron of length 14.5 m along the river, which was constructed with the random stone, has been washed away for the length of 64 m in the middle portion. The ditch created shall be filled up with compacted coarse sand duly watered and rammed and over which an inverted filter with 0.3 m sand and 0.15 m 20 mm CA & 0.15 m 40 mm CA shall be provided. Over the inverted filter, PCC (M-20) of 0.09 m thickness shall be provided with the provision of drainage holes. On the left side, for a length of 31.7 m, the 1st portion of the concrete apron has been undermined due to scouring of the d/s portion. The undermined portion is to be dismantled and made good following the same process.

(2) The 2nd d/s apron portion for a length of 24.5 m along the river has been washed away for a length of 118 m. The ditch created is to be filled up with compacted sand duly watered and rammed and over which an inverted filter with 0.3 m sand and 0.15 m 20 mm CA & 0.15 m 40 mm CA shall be provided. Over the inverted filter, the entire area shall be covered with a stone of thickness 0.9 m collected from the deposited stones on the d/s area.

(3) The 3rd d/s apron portion for a length of 20.7 m along the river, which has also been washed away for a length of 122 m, may be filled up with sand upon which stone packing of 0.6 m shall be done.

(4) The aprons are to be made as per the prevailing slope. The complete apron shall be made with alternate blocks of size 3m x 3m.

(5) A cutoff wall is to be provided at the end of the 3rd d/s apron.

(6) PCC cubes of M20 A40 with a size of 1.5 x 1.5 x 0.9 m above 0.6 m Stone layer of five rows leaving 75 mm gaps in between in staggered manned are to be provided. The gaps are to be filled up with Bajri /6 mm CA. A curtain wall of 1.8 m depth is to be provided in the d/s of CC cubes.

(7) The damaged left-wing wall and retaining wall may be reconstructed as RCC retaining walls over pile foundation, providing pile cap below design scour level.