Hirakud dam to release season’s first flood water on July 24  

Sambalpur: With the Chhattisgarh Government opening sluice gates of its several barrages following incessant rains on the upper catchment of river Mahanadi, the Hirakud dam in Odisha’s Sambalpur district has decided to release the first flood water of the season on July 24.

For this, the dam authorities have alerted Collectors of all districts located on the banks of Mahanadi. However, the authorities have not confirmed the number of sluice gates to be opened on the day.

Sources said while the water storage capacity of the dam stands at 630 ft, the water level of the dam was 607.25 ft on July 19. Currently, 1,17,600 cusec water is entering the dam per second whereas only 15,540 cusec water is being released.

On other hand, more water is likely to be released into the dam from its catchment area in view of the possible low pressure predicted by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).