Water Level Of Major Rivers In Odisha Rising But No Flood Threat Now, Says Engineer-In-Chief

Bhubaneswar: Even as water level of all major rivers in Odisha has gone up due to heavy rainfall in the last few days, there is no threat of flood now.

This was stated by Bijay Kumar Mishra, engineer-in-chief, Water Resources department, while speaking to media persons in Bhubaneswar on Friday. He said though water level has gone up in almost all rivers in the state, it is yet to reach danger mark except Jalaka river.

Jalaka was flowing above danger mark at Mathani in Balasore district. While the danger mark at the place is 5.5 metre, the water level had reached 6.28 metre.

“Since more rain has been forecast in next 14 hours, we are keeping a watch at all vulnerable places of the rivers. There is no immediate threat of flood in any river,” Mishra said.

The regional centre of India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Bhubaneswar has forecast that due to a fresh low pressure, which is likely to form over the north Bay of Bengal around August 13, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in 13 districts on Saturday and Sunday.

On the situation in Mahanadi, Mishra said the water flow at Mundali in Cuttack was 3.46 lakh cusec. “The water released from Hirakud dam in Sambalpur has not reached Mundali yet. Situation is not very concerning and we have advised all staff to remain alert,” he added.

Meanwhile, chief engineer of Hirakud dam said there is no much rainfall activity in the upper catchment areas of the river in neighbouring Chhattisgarh. So water inflow into Hirakud has come down. “Current inflow of rainwater to the dam was 4.01 lakh cusec, while the discharge was 3.41 lakh cusec. This will reach Mundali in Cuttack in around 36 hours and by then, water flowing through Mundali would recede,” he said.