Other Rivers - Rushikulya and Vansadhara

The Rushikulya River

The Rushikulya is one of the few major rivers that both originates and entirely flows within Odisha. It rises from the hills of the Eastern Ghats near Daringbadi in Kandhamal district, often called the “Kashmir of Odisha” for its cool climate. From its source at an elevation of about 1,000 metres, the river flows southeast for about 165 kilometres through Kandhamal and Ganjam districts before entering the Bay of Bengal at Puruna Bandha near Ganjam. Despite its relatively short length, the Rushikulya drains a catchment of approximately 7,700 square kilometres and supports a densely populated agricultural basin in the southern coastal plain. The river’s name has mythological associations — legend says it was blessed by groups of rishis (sages) who meditated along its banks.

Rushikulya Ecology and Turtle Nesting

The Rushikulya river mouth has gained international recognition as a major mass-nesting site for olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea), a vulnerable marine turtle species. Every year between January and March, tens of thousands of female olive ridley turtles come ashore along the sandy beach near the Rushikulya estuary to lay their eggs in a remarkable synchronised nesting phenomenon known as arribada. The Rushikulya rookery is one of only three major mass-nesting sites for this species in the world, the other two being at Gahirmatha in Odisha and in Costa Rica. The State Government, along with the Forest Department and local conservation groups, undertakes measures including fishing restrictions, beach patrols, and nest protection during the nesting season. The estuary also supports a productive fishery and acts as a habitat for various resident and migratory bird species.

Rushikulya Irrigation System

The Rushikulya irrigation system is one of the oldest in Odisha, with the Soroda reservoir and anicuts at various points along the river. The Bhanjanagar reservoir (formerly known as the Rushikulya Reservoir) in Ganjam district provides irrigation to a significant portion of the district’s rice-growing area. The Harabhangi and Badanadi are important tributaries, each with their own minor irrigation structures. The lower Rushikulya plain is a fertile alluvial tract where rice, groundnut, sugarcane, and pulses are the principal crops. Ganjam district’s agrarian prosperity owes much to this river system. However, the river suffers from reduced flows during the dry season, sand mining in its bed, and increasing water demand from the rapidly urbanising Berhampur region.

The Vansadhara River

The Vansadhara River originates from the Thuamul Rampur plateau in the Kalahandi district of Odisha, in close proximity to the sources of the Nagavali and Indravati rivers. “Vansadhara” translates to “carrier of bamboo”, referencing the dense bamboo thickets along its upper course. The river flows for about 230 kilometres, of which approximately 154 kilometres lies within Odisha and the remaining portion flows through Andhra Pradesh. The Vansadhara cuts through the Eastern Ghats via deep gorges, particularly in the Gunupur-Rayagada region, and enters the plains of Andhra Pradesh before joining the Bay of Bengal near Kalingapatnam.

Vansadhara Basin and Disputes

The Vansadhara drains a catchment of about 8,960 square kilometres in Odisha, covering parts of Kalahandi, Rayagada, and Gajapati districts before crossing into Andhra Pradesh. The river basin has significant tribal population, and the terrain in the upper and middle reaches is rugged with forested slopes. The river supports the agrarian economy of the Gunupur subdivision and provides water for Rayagada town, an industrial centre with aluminium and ferroalloy plants. The interstate Vansadhara Water Dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh has been ongoing for decades, with Odisha opposing Andhra Pradesh’s construction of the Neradi barrage, arguing it would submerge tribal lands and forests in Odisha. The Vansadhara Tribunal was constituted in 2010 to adjudicate the dispute. The lower Vansadhara floodplain in Andhra is highly fertile and intensively cultivated, while Odisha’s utilisation of this river remains limited. Both the Rushikulya and Vansadhara represent the vital but often underappreciated smaller river systems of southern Odisha.