Hirakud Dam authorities today released the first rainwater of the season from the reservoir to river Mahanadi after the water level in Hirakud reservoir reached 619 feet, just 11 feet below the maximum water level (MWL). Sambalpur Collector Suvam Saxena switched on to open the Gate NO 7, as this number is treated to be an auspicious one.
However, considering the heavy rainfall in the downstream and flow of nearly 10 lakh causes water at Naraj by tomorrow morning, the dam authorities closed the gate in the afternoon to avert flood in the Mahanadi delta in the coastal area.
Hirakud dam project chief engineer Sunil Kumar Nayak said more gates will be opened after the flood situation improves in the lower catchment area of Mahanadi improves.
“The main objective of Hirakud dam project is ‘flood control’ and we are doing that,” the Chief Engineer said. The dam authorities at the beginning of the monsoon were concerned due to scanty rainfall in the upper catchments. They were apprehensive if they could provide adequate water to the farmers of the Hirakud command area. But in the second week of August, there was an improvement in the situation with heavy rainfall in Chhattisgarh and water level increased to a satisfactory extent. (UNI)
