Mahanadi water level rising; Hirakud Dam to open gates on Sunday

The recent spell of rainfall is now triggering a rise in the water level of Mahanadi River. This has now prompted the authorities to open the sluice gates of Hirakud Dam.

As per the official announcement, Hirakud will open gates for the first time this season on July 23. A final decision on the number of gates to be opened will be taken on the same day itself. The Hirakud gates will be opened at 9 am on Sunday.

In view of the release of excess water from Hirakud, the authorities have sounded an alert in areas of Sambalpur, Hirakud and Burla. People are being advised not to venture into Mahanadi in view of the release of water from the Hirakud dam.

At present the water level of Hirakud dam stands at 613 ft against the capacity of 630ft. Around 1,36,000 cusecs of water is entering the dam against the outflow of 40,000 cusecs.

The water level of Mahanadi is rising following heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas. At present, water is being released by Chhattisgarh through 66 gates of Kalma barrage.

Water was released for the first time through Kalma barrage on June 16. Initially, five gates were opened and subsequently, water was released through 66 gates.

It is pertinent to mention here that several parts of Mahanadi stream in Odisha were parched after Chhattisgarh stopped the release of water during the non-monsoon period.