Bhubaneswar: The Hirakud dam authorities have decided to release the season’s first floodwater into the Mahanadi on July 6, following a traditional puja ceremony.
The decision was taken by the Water Resources Department in view of the steady rise in the water level of Hirakud reservoir in Odisha’s Sambalpur due to heavy rainfall in the upstream of the dam. “The first floodwater will be released from Gate 7 of Hirakud Dam Reservoir at 10 am on July 6. The decision on the number of the gates to be opened will be taken on that day,” Chief Engineer Sushil Behera told the media.
The water level of Hirakud dam stood at 603 ft as on Thursday, he said.
Behera further said that the water level in the reservoir may rise to 606 or 607 ft if there is no rains.
As a cyclonic circulation persists over north Odisha adjoining Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha is expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall till July 6. There is an orange warning (very heavy rain) for Sambalpur on July 3 and a yellow warning (heavy rain) on July 4.
As per rule, the water level should be 605 ft against the full reservoir level of 630 ft till July 31.
People living at the lower end of Hirakud dam will be asked to remain alert while entering into the tributaries, which may see an increase in its water level after the release of floodwaters. The warning will be issued 48 hours in advance, he added.