The Hirakud Dam authorities decided to open 14 more gates on Tuesday-Wednesday night so that total 40 gates would discharge the Mahanadi floodwaters.
“Since more water is coming from Chhattisgarh and upper catchments of the reservoir, such a decision was taken. But there is nothing to be worried at present as we have sufficient ‘Flood Space’”, said Dam Chief Engineer Ananda Chandra Sahu. “A flood can’t be averted under the present situation. But there is no danger at all,” he said.
The water level in the reservoir stood at 626.58 feet against the maximum of 630 feet. “As per rule curve, the water level in the reservoir is to be maintained at 622 feet on September 1. But unprecedented rains in mid-August created a delicate situation for us. But we are doing the best water management. We are taking necessary steps to come back to 618 feet,” he said further.
There is no extraordinary situation this year like the major flood in 1980. “On September 20, 1980, the dam authorities were forced to open 88 gates, both upper and lower, as the situation was so alarming then and that created devastation in most parts of the State,'' Sahu recalled. “But we will not let such a situation occur this time,” he claimed.
