No.213/80 – In exercise of powers conferred by Section 18 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (53 of 1972), the State Government.

The proposal for constituting Hadagarh sanctuary was initiated during 1976-77 when the task force committee on crocodile farming in Orissa decided to release the mugger (freshwater crocodile) in the reservoir of Salandi dam (Hadagarh) because of favorable climatic conditions for that species.

A large stagnant water body (31.83 km2) of river Salandi, called Hadagarh reservoir is located inside the Sanctuary and is the important wetlands of this Sanctuary that attracts a variety of water birds both migratory and resident.

The primary plant community is mixed deciduous forests, including Sal (Shorea robusta).

The Salandi River here flows between two mountains, the Hadgarh Dam was not accidentally built right here, today it is the biggest tourist attraction of this area.