The State Government on Tuesday directed the Collectors of several districts to remain alert keeping in view a possible flood in the Mahanadi basin with five more gates of the Hirakud Dam being opened.
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi informed that excess flood water from the Hirakud Dam was being released through a total of 25 gates. As a result, nearly eight to 8.5 lakh cusecs of water was expected to reach Mundali in Cuttack by Thursday.
Notably, the water level of the Hirakud reservoir is on the rise following incessant rains in the upper catchment areas in Chhattisgarh.
“We have asked the district Collectors of Jajpur, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur and Cuttack to remain alert even though there is no major flood threat in the State,” said Sethi.
Sethi further informed that the Sambalpur district administration has been asked to take necessary measures for the evacuation of people from low-lying areas keeping in view the release of excess floodwater through the Hirakud Dam.
Official sources informed that flood-like situations have been reported in Tihidi and Bhadrak areas; and already ODRAF and NDRF units are to be pressed into service as soon as required.
Hirakud Chief Engineer Jyotirmayi Rath said the flood-like situation in the Mahanadi system was mainly due to incessant rain in Chhattisgarh and subsequent release of excess water through the Ravishankar reservoir and two other medium projects by the neighbouring State.