Hirakud reservoir releases season’s first flood water

Bhubaneswar: Hirakud Dam authorities on Wednesday released first flood water from the reservoir in this rainy season.

The flood water was released from one gate at 11 am by the Hirakud Dam authorities.

 “Keeping in view a medium level flood situation downstream, we wouldn’t release the amount of water earlier planned. Symbolically, one gate will be opened for some hours and it will be closed,” informed Water Resources secretary P.K. Jena.

He said despite the increase in inflow from the upper catchment area, Hirakud Dam has still the capacity to store water.

“We want that the flood in the downstream is moderate and does not heighten. Waiting for one-two more days, we will calculate and take further decision when to release flood water and the number of gates to be opened in future,” said Jena.

However, the district collectors of Khurdha, Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Nayagarh and Kendrapara have been alerted and advised to strengthen river bank patrolling.