Three More Gates Of Odisha’s Hirakud Dam Opened To Release Floodwater

Sambalpur: Another three gates of the Hirakud Dam in Odisha’s Sambalpur district were opened on Monday to release floodwater, taking the total to eight.

By 9 am, the water level of the dam stood at 614.45 ft against full reservoir capacity of 630 ft. Inflow into the reservoir was 1,08,705 cusec and outflow 1,16,731 cusec. The season’s first floodwater was released from the reservoir through five gates, including three on the left spillway and two on the right, on Sunday.

Sources said that more gates were opened following an increase in rainfall in the upper catchment and subsequent rise in the water level of the dam. All the 13 districts in the downstream of Hirakud dam have been asked to remain alert as the Mahanadi and its distributaries is witnessing a rise in water level in lower catchments after opening of the dam gates.

“Our target is to maintain the water level at 605 ft by July 31,” Chief engineer of Upper Mahanadi Basin Ananda Chandra Sahoo had told the media. However, there are no chances of flood as of now, he added.