TV
The water level of river Mahanadi is currently rising after the release of excess floodwater from Hirakud dam. The season’s first floodwater was released from Hirakud dam by opening 20 gates in a phased manner on Sunday.
The decision to open the gates of Hirakud dam was taken in view of the rise in inflow of water following heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas of neighbouring Chhattisgarh. The waterlevel of Hirakud dam now stands at 628 ft while over 2.50 lakh cusecs of water is entering the dam against the outflow of 3, 47,628 cusecs.
Following the release of excess water from Hirakud, there has been a rise in water level in Mahanadi and some of its tributaries in the state. Flood threat looms large in Binika in Sonepur which is located downstream. The situation is likely to aggravate if more gates of the Hirakud dam are opened. It is said that already the people of Binika have been facing problems due to rainfall activities in the past 10 days.
Earlier, the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) had instructed Collectors of Sambalpur, Sonepur, Nayagarh, Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts to remain alert. The senior district administration officials have been asked to appeal to people to not enter Mahanadi river.
