Balidiha Irrigation Project is a diversion weir Scheme constructed across river Palpala, near village Balidiha in Samakhunta Block of Mayurbhanj District. The weir site intercepts a catchment of 205 Sq.Km. The major component of this system consists of a 173.0 mtr long diversion weir, 4 no of sluices and 2 no of head regulators feeding to the Left and Right Main Canal. The length of Right Main Canal is 13.485km and the length of the Left Main canal is 6.535 Km. Both the Main Canals have total 22 Nos. of Minors & Sub–Minors comprising to total length of 50.37Km. This Project was completed in the year 1912 during Pre-Independence period. The existing canal system irrigates to an area of 3832.00 Ha. In Khariff (wet season crop) and 200 Ha. in Rabi (winter season crop) of 49 villages in Samakhunta Block.

Mayurbhanj District in Odisha is a tribal zone. The people here depend mostly on agriculture. Before construction of Balidiha Irrigation Project in 1912, the people were mostly using conventional methods of irrigation through wells, ponds streams, etc. This project is the first irrigation structure in the tribal zone and has served successfully till date, providing assured irrigation in a drought prone state like Odisha and helped a lot in improving the socioeconomic conditions of the people. Even after 110 years of service, the project is still fully operational.

In 19th century, Odisha suffered a lot from repeated drought and famine conditions, the great famine of 1866 being worst among them, claiming millions of lives. After the great famine, the Colonial Government undertook some canal works in the coastal area. At that time, the Maharaja of Mayurbhanj Sri Ramachandra Banja Deo took up the project from his state funds for the betterment of his people, when the construction of diversion weir was like a dream.

The barrage was constructed using the locally available laterite stones. Many of the old structures are intact even today. The main diversion weir, however, had been re-moulded with RCC casing in the year 2003 to safe guard the structure.

As mentioned earlier, the Mayurbhanj District is a tribal belt of Odisha and people here mostly depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Being a drought prone state, previously the agriculture was dependant on rain or conventional methods of irrigation through ponds, wells and streams, which used to dry up during droughts. Balidiha Irrigation Project provided an environment of assured irrigation in the area, thus improving the food production and socio-economic conditions.

The scenic beauty of the area as well as the sparkling cascading water over the unique step type energy dissipation structure on the downstream of the weir attract many local tourists as well as tourists from the neighbouring states like West Bengal and Jharkhand. BY proper planning and development, the location can be a major tourist attraction in the country.

The Diversion Weir is situated near the foothill of Similipal bio-sphere. The project is still operative even after 110 years of its construction. Over the years, the laterite stone masonry structure developed signs of distress. To check the profuse leaking and to enhance the stability of the structure, it had been remolded by providing concrete casing with reinforcement in the year 2003. Further, de-silting measures have been undertaken in the year 2019-20 to reinstate the capacity of the reservoir. Even last year the project has provided irrigation to an ayacut of 3832 ha in kharif and 150 ha in rabi.

Due to its scenic beauty and the cascading sparkling water over the stepped downstream, the prject attracts tourists from several states. Previously, the royal family of the Mayurbhanj State was coming here for hunting and spending leisure time. The location has ample scope for development of tourism too. The charismatic view of the site attracts a lot of film makers for shooting of movie, TV serials and albums also.