Bhubaneswar, June 28: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today launched the "real time flood forecasting model" for the Mahanadi basin that will help authorities get flood information 72 hours in advance.

The flood-forecasting model will use the resources of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to get advance report about rainfall in the upper catchment areas of the Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh.

The forecasting model will give the authorities here state access to rainfall information in Chhattisgarh three to six days in advance. Once the state government gets information from the IMD, it will study the flow of water in the Mahanadi. The moment there is a surge in the river and possibility of a flood-like situation, collectors of districts in the Mahanadi basin will be alerted to start evacuation process.

"The objective of the project is to build a basin wise hydrological model to construct flood forecasts through simulation of flow based on rainfall predictions over the basin using hydrological model," said a government official. He added that flood forecasts for three locations-Hirakud, Khairmal (after Tel river confluences) and Mundali (delta head) - have been identified.

The maximum water-level at the Hirakud reservoir is 630ft and it is maintained throughout the year.

"Sudden release of water into the reservoir poses a threat to it," the official said.