Hirakud Dam authorities release water Odisha govt asks collectors to be on high alert

    Bhubaneswar, Jul 28 (PTI) In the wake of heavy rain, the authorities of Hirakud Dam in Odisha on Sunday released excess water from the reservoir, the first such an exercise in the current monsoon season, an official said.
    The water was released through 20 of the 67 gates of the dam to downstream of the Mahanadi river, he said.
    The exercise was undertaken as the water level in the reservoir was rising due to rain in the river upstream, Water Resources Department Engineer-in-Chief Bhakta Ranjan Mohanty said.
    Collectors were also requested to remain alert and monitor the situation, another official said.
    The gates have been opened in three phases – seven at 9.30 am, another seven at 12.30 pm and the remaining six at 2.30 pm, to flush out excess water from the reservoir, he said.
    “All the Water Resources Department officials have been asked to remain in their headquarters and keep a close watch on the situation,” he said.
    Mohanty claimed there is no fear of flood even as water is being released from the dam.
    The water level of Hirakud Dam in Sambalpur district stood at 617.77 ft at 2 pm as against its full reservoir capacity of 630 feet. The "inflow of water into the reservoir was 2.79 lakh cusec, while the outflow was 2.50 lakh cusec. The water level of the dam is on a rising trend, according to an official report.
    The state government, in a release, said that due to the opening of 20 gates, the "Khairmal discharge would be around 4.50 lakh cusecs by 8 am on July 29 and the Mundali discharge will be around 5 lakh cusecs by 11 am on July 30".
    "Collectors of Sambalpur, Sonepur, Nayagarh, Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara have been asked to alert the people residing in downstream areas not to enter the Mahanadi riverside. Domestic animals should not be allowed to gaze close to the river. Collectors are also requested to remain alert and monitor the situation," it said.
    The District Emergency Operation Centre will also be manned by senior officers, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) said in a letter to collectors.
    The water level of Baitarani, one of the major rivers in Odisha, was also showing an increasing trend at noon and water was flowing at a level of 17.40 metres at Akhuapada in Bhadrak district as against the warning level of 17.83 metres and danger level of 18.33 metres.
    Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast that heavy rainfall will continue to lash several districts of Odisha for the next four days.
    Heavy rainfall is expected in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jajpur districts on Monday, while warning for downpours issued for Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Balasore, Bhadrak, and Jajpur districts for July 30.
    The rainfall will increase in the subsequent two days, the IMD said.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)