The first floodwater from the Hirakud dam was released on Friday amidst the presence of the district officials and dam authorities, including chief engineer Biswajit Mohanty and SE RK Panda.
At the outset, Mohanty opened gate (7) to release the first water to river Mahanadi. Thereafter, Sambalpur SP Prateek Mohanty, District Collector Balwant Singh and Surendra Kumar Meena, an IAS probationer, opened the next gates. Total five gates were opened in the first phase.
The dam authorities after a traditional Puja near the main dam released the water from the dam and the people of the entire Hirakud and Burla towns situated at both ends of the dam enjoyed the scene of water gushing out. The dam authorities have decided to open three more gates considering the rains in the upper catchment area of the river. They also cautioned the district administrations on the bank of river Mahanadi to be alert for extra water flow in the river due to Hirakud water.
They also took every precaution in Burla and Hirakud areas so that no mishap takes place by cautioning the locals not to venture into the river after release of water.
At present, the inflow to the Hirakud reservoir is 1.29 lakh cusec and the outflow through the sluice gates, power channel and canals is 90, 246 cusec, Panda said. Further, the rain fall in the upper and lower catchments were recorded to be 5.36 mm and 19. 26 mm, he added.
At present, the water level in the Hirakud reservoir is 611.91 feet as against the maximum water level of 630 feet.
There is no possibility of flood situation in the State and particularly, in river Mahanadi and Kathajodi due to the Hirakud water, the dam chief engineer confirmed. Release of water from Hirakud is being monitored keeping in view the flow of water at Naraj, he said further.