No flood threat in Odisha, says Additional SRC after Hirakud releases excess water

There is no flood threat in Odisha even though Hirakud Dam in Sambalpur released excess water, informed Additional Special Relief Commissioner Padmanav Behera on Sunday.

Season’s first floodwater was released from Hirakud Dam through seven gates today. The authorities of the dam have decided to flush out excess water by opening 20 gates in a phase-wise manner.

While seven gates each were opened at 9.30 am and 12.30 pm respectively, six more gates were opened at 2.30 pm, informed the Department of Water Resources.

Once 20 gates of Hirakud dam are opened, the water flow is likely to be around 4.50 lakh cusecs water at Khairmal on July 29 morning and the discharge at Mundali would be around 5.00 lakh cusecs by July 30, informed the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) earlier in the day.

Commenting on the development Behera said, “The Collectors of Sambalpur, Sonepur, Boudh, Nayagarh, Angul, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada and Puri districts, lying in the lower basin of Mahanadi river, have been directed to remain alert. However, there is no flood threat in the State.”

“Senior officers have been asked to remain present at the district control rooms and monitor the situation to avoid any kind of emergency situation,” Behera added.

Water Resources Department Engineer-in-chief Bhakta Ranjan Mohanty said, “Rain in the upper catchment areas increased the water level in the Hiradkud reservoir prompting us to release the excess water. We are expecting 4.50 lakh cusec water flow at Khairmal by 6 am on Monday morning and the flow will reach a peak, around 5 lakh cusec, at Mundali on July 30 morning.”

“Baitarani is flowing below the danger level and it is gradually swelling. The water level is at 17.1 m at Akhuapada. We are also keeping a close watch on Baitarani river system,” Mohanty informed.