2 Sluice Gates of Hirakud Dam Closed as Floodwater Inflow to Reservoir Decreases

Sambalpur: The Hirakud Dam authorities on Wednesday closed two sluice gates as the inflow of floodwater into the reservoir decreased.

Currently, water is being released through 18 gates, including 12 on the left spillway and six on the right spillway of the dam.

“There is no flood threat in the state. Two sluice gates of Hirakud dam have been closed as water level in the Mahanadi upstream has decreased,” said Engineer-in-Chief, Water Resources, Bhakta Ranjan Mohanty.

A decrease in rainfall in upper and lower catchment areas of the Mahanadi river system has reduced the inflow of floodwater to the Hirakud Dam’s reservoir. The water level of the dam stood at 611.85 ft at 6 am on Wednesday against its intake capacity of 630 ft.

Heavy rains in the upper catchment had prompted Hirakud Dam authorities to open 20 gates to release floodwater on Sunday.