Sambalpur: Considering the steady rise in the water level of Hirakud dam following heavy rain in the upper catchments of Mahanadi, the dam authorities have decided to open the sluice gates to release the year’s first floodwater next week.
The floodwater will be released any time after 11 am on August 14, Hirakud dam chief engineer, Sunil Kumar Nayak told the media on Saturday. “After taking note of the amount of rainfall in the upper catchments till August 14, we will decide on the number of gates to be opened to release the floodwater,” he added.
People living along the Mahanadi banks have been warned not to venture into the river from the morning on August 14 as the water level will suddenly rise due to the release of floodwater, Nayak informed.
According to the official, the water level of the dam till 10 am on Saturday was 610.85 feet as against its optimum height of 630 feet. The inflow to the dam was was 1,25,584 cusecs and outflow was 16,708 cusecs per second.
