Hirakud Dam Gates To Open Today For Releasing Excess Water

Sambalpur: Water infiltration into the Hirakud reservoir has increased due to rains in the upper reaches. At 6 pm on Monday, the water level at 425.10 feet rose by about 2 feet in 24 hours to 626.06 feet on Tuesday evening. Seven sluice gates of Hirakudar were opened at 5 pm on Tuesday in view of the rising water level.

At 6 p.m., an average of 1,5,580 cusecs of water was entering the reservoir, while 1,26,07 cusecs were being discharged through various channels. Of these, 4,230 cusecs were through spillways, 28,557 cusecs through power channels, 281 cusecs through Bargarh canal, 200 cusecs through administrative canals, 40 cusecs through Sambalpur Distribution and 262 cusecs for industrial purposes. At the same time, the lower head of the diamond was 6,400 cusecs in Belgaum, 36,05,6 cusecs in Patharla, 6,600 cusecs in Khairmal, 593,000 cusecs in Bermul and 4,68,266 cusecs in Mundali. In the last 24 hours, the average rainfall at the top of the diamond was 6.8 mm and the bottom was 122.8 mm, according to the Diamond Dam Control Room.

A total of six gates will be opened, phase-wise. While siren will be blown from 3 PM, the water will be released at 5 PM.