Concerned over seepage of water in the Hirakud Dam at the electricity generation unit of Burla power channel, the Water Resources Department has sought the expertise of its dam safety panel to plug cracks.
According to official sources, the Energy Department in an advisory to the Odisha Hydro-Power Corporation asked for immediate plugging of the seepage at the power channel unit El-470 in the Burla power generation project. According to the letter, during an annual supervision on Mach last, it was found that a six-inch crack had surfaced at the wall of the power generation unit leading to seepage of water in down level.
Talking to newsmen on Thursday, Water Resources Department Principal Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said on the request of the Energy Department, the Water Resources department had already started a process in war footing to seal the cracks that surfaced due to seepage in a portion of the wall.
Mohapatra said that the dam safety panel of the Water Resources Department comprises of national level experts and engineers. They have been asked to visit the dam site to conduct a detailed survey relating to the severity of the seepage and recommend soon the measures to close the cracks by grouting.