Odisha’s Hirakud reservoir likely to touch optimum mark today

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Burla, Sept 24:

Water level of Hirakud reservoir in Odisha’s Sambalpur district is most likely to touch its optimum mark of 630 feet today.

According to reports, water level of the reservoir had touched 629.33 feet by 9 PM on Tuesday.

While the inflow of water during the period was 1.95 lakh cusecs, the outflow was 1.31 lakh cusecs through eight gates, 21,000 cusecs through the power channels and 4700 cusecs through the canals.

Considering the elevation of the Mahanadi river bed at a height of 500 feet from the sea level, the dam authorities have fixed the maximum level of the dam at 630 feet.

As per the rule curve, water level of the reservoir should be at the maximum level on September 30 or October 1.

The reservoir has a total of 98 gates including the crest gates of which 64 are sluice gates. Of the 64 gates, 40 gates are on the right spillway towards the direction of Burla while the 24 gates are on the left spillway towards the direction of Hirakud.

As per the rule curve, the dam authorities should not open two gates each on the left and right spillways unless there is an emergency situation.