Sambalpur: Earthquake Risk at Hirakud; Expert Team Assesses Safety, MNIT Initiates Study Under Central Directive
Sambalpur: The Hirakud Dam and its surroundings are located in seismic zone 3, making them vulnerable to earthquakes. Concerned about this, the Central Government has ordered a thorough assessment of the dam’s stability in the case of an earthquake. On Tuesday, a six-person expert team from various national institutes went to Hirakud Dam to assess the situation.
Team of Experts Visits Hirakud Dam
The expert team consists of four MNIT professors, one IIT Madras professor, and a CSMRS senior scientist. A Water Resources Mission representative also joined the team.
The team arrived at Ashok Nivas around 11 a.m., where they collaborated with dam officials to inspect critical areas. They gathered information on the right and left spillways, the operation gallery, the foundation gallery, and the dike area. Chief Engineer Sushil Behera and Additional Chief Engineer Sudhir Sahu attended the inspection and provided the necessary information to the team. After discussions, the expert team concluded their visit.
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Study of Earthquake-Resistant Structures Begins
In response to growing national concern about dam safety, MNIT has begun to investigate major dams’ earthquake resistance. This process, led by the Central Government, seeks to assess the structural integrity and earthquake resilience of India’s most prominent dams. Initially, information will be gathered for five major dams, including Hirakud.
The MNIT had previously requested that the dam authorities provide data on 14 specific parameters, including flood design criteria, rainfall statistics, water inflow, spillway capacity, structural design, geotechnical and geophysical reports, annual temperature variations, dam construction history, and other important details. Chief Engineer Behera confirmed that all available information was provided to the team as requested.
National Efforts for Dam Safety
India’s concerns about dam safety have prompted national efforts to ensure that major dams remain safe during earthquakes. With data collection underway, MNIT is actively analyzing structural and geophysical factors to support disaster preparedness and infrastructure safety throughout the country.
