Hirakud reservoir releases season’s first flood water

Bhubaneswar: The season’s first flood water was released from Hirakud Dam on Sunday morning after a ceremonial puja. Only one gate was opened for the discharge. This was necessitated following rise in water level due to incessant rainfall in the upper catchment of the Mahanadi river.
Official sources, sluice gate number 7 was opened today for release of flood water and more gates would be opened in a phased manner.
Dam chief engineer Harmohan Pradhan allayed ‘flood threat’ as the basin downstream was dry.
“People residing on the bank of Mahanadi and its tributaries have been advised to practise caution. The collectors of Sambalpur, Bargarh, Angul, Khurda, Nayagarh, Boudh, Cuttack, Phulbani, Jagatsinghpur and Puri districts have also been alerted,” Pradhan informed.
As per the rule, the water level of the reservoir should be kept between 603 and 606 feet in July. This optimum level is maintained by discharging the excess water. The water was at 607.60 ft with an inflow of 97,000 cusecs per second and outflow of 25,000 cusecs this morning.