Water released by the Hirakud dam. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur/Cuttack, Aug. 2: Inflow of flood water of the Mahanadi river into the Hirakud reservoir following heavy rainfall in upper catchment areas has forced authorities to release excess water into the basin by opening 24 sluice gates in the dam today.

However, the water resources development authorities ruled out flood threat to the basin.

At present, the Hirakud reservoir’s water level has been recorded at 622.91ft as against full reservoir level of 630ft.

While 2,89,098 cusecs of flood water per second was entering the reservoir, 3,94,037 cusecs of water per second was being released from 24 gates.

The dam authorities have been releasing the rainwater through the 24 gates since Friday.

Chief engineer of the dam Biswajit Mohanty said: “The water level of the reservoir will come down to 620ft by tonight. We will start closing the sluice gates from tomorrow morning.” He also said there was forecast of rainfall in the downstream. “However, flood situation will not arise in the downstream,” said Mohanty.

“The water of Mahanadi released from the dam meets with the water of the Tel river at Khairmal and move towards Mundali in the downstream. If the water level increases in the Tel, we will regulate the outflow of the water here,” Mohanty said.

The dam released this season’s first flood water on July 24 when the water level of the reservoir stood at 619.17ft.

The released flood water will reach Mundali barrage in Cuttack district tomorrow morning. Sources in the Mundali barrage control room said that around 2.5 lakh cusecs of the Ib river water had entered the Mahanadi. “With this, nearly 6.5 lakh cusecs of total flood water will pass through the Mundali barrage by 9am tomorrow,” said a water resources department official.

Cuttack collector Girish S.N. told The Telegraph today: “This will not pose any flood threat to the downstream. The discharge of flood water from the Mundali barrage is being regulated to keep it below seven lakh cusecs,” he said.

District emergency officer Satya Sundar Rout told The Telegraph that according to the latest reports, 5,82,865 cusecs of water was passing through the Mundali barrage by 3pm.

“There is no flood-like situation in the downstream areas of Cuttack district. However, situation is being monitored in the Banki area to tackle possible flood situation,” Rout said.

Water resources secretary S.C. Mohapatra said there was no flood threat to the basin. “Water is being passed smoothly. Around six to seven lakh cusecs water is passing, while the river embankments have the capacity to withstand release of water up to 12 lakh cusecs,” he said.