Heavy Rain In Upper Catchments Of Mahanadi: Odisha To Open Hirakud Dam Gates Today

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has decided to open sluice gates of Hirakud dam to release excess water from the reservoir following heavy  rainfall in the upper catchments of Mahanadi river.

Briefing the media on Tuesday, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Jena said as the depression will move in the west-north-west across north Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh and weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area during next 48 hours, the Hirakud Dam authorities will open some sluice gates later in the day.

“At present the Hirakud reservoir is receiving about 1.95 lakh cusecs mostly from the Tel river. With Chhattisgarh already receiving heavy rainfall, the dam authorities will open the gates today and release about 5 to 6 lakh cusecs to bring down the water level of the dam. “If we will release this water through Mundali barrage within 24 hours, we will be able to manage the excess floodwater in the dam in the subsequent 24 hours as well as the flood in the lower catchments”, the SRC added.

Chief Engineer of Hirakud Dam, Anand Chandra Sahu said keeping the heavy rainfall in Chhattisgarh in mind six sluice gates of the dam will be opened at 5 pm today.

As per the information provided by the Central Water Commission (CWC), the water level of Hirakud Dam by 9 am was 627.27 feet against the optimum level of 630 feet. While the inflow of water into the reservoir was 1.95 lakh cusecs, the outflow was 21,448 cusecs.

Besides, the discharge of the water in the upper catchments during the period was 2.46 lakh cusecs at Khairmal, 4.36 lakh cusecs at Barmul and 2.48 lakh cusecs at Mundali.

As per latest information, Jalaka was flowing at 6.22 mark and rising at Mathani in Balasore district at 9 am against the danger level of 5.50. Similarly, Baitarani river was flowing at 17.84 mark and rising at Akhuapada at 9 am against danger level of 17.83.

Other rivers which witnessed rising water level are Mahanadi, Devi, Brahmani, Ib, Budhabalanga, Subarnarekha, Bansadhara and Rushikulya.