Hirakud Dam Opens 20 Sluice Gates

Water is being released though 12 sluice gates on the left spillway and eight sluice gates on right spillway for two days.

SAMBALPUR:  Flood water from the catchment areas was released through six sluice gates of Hirakud dam reservoir on Thursday. By the evening, the number of gates was increased to 20 for better management of flood water as per Rule Curve. At 6 pm, water level in the reservoir stood at 620.52 feet while the inflow into the dam was 4,82,230 cusec and outflow 2,88,916 cusec.

Water is being released though 12 sluice gates on the left spillway and eight sluice gates on right spillway. Sambalpur Collector Balwant Singh said the gates would remain open for two days.

Allaying fear of flood in the downstream, he said the released water would take 48 hours to reach Mundali. It has been targeted to keep the water level in the reservoir at 610 feet to 615 feet by end of this month, he added.

The Collector said there has been no rain in upstream area of Chhattisgarh for the last two days and the administration will take stock of the situation on Friday evening before deciding on the closure of the sluice gates.

Hundreds of visitors witnessed the annual event as entry to the area is prohibited on other days.

Out of 64 sluice gates in the dam, 24 are on the right side and 40 on the left side to release the flood water. Each sluice gate has the capacity to discharge 16,440 cusec of water when reservoir level touches 630 feet, earmarked as the danger level.

This apart, there are 34 crest gates, 13 on right side and 21 on the left side, which can discharge 16,238 cusec of water each at 630 feet.

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