Sambalpur, Aug. 30: Experts from the Central Soil and Material Research Station (CSMRS) said the Hirakud dam, which had developed a few cracks, was safe after the repairs.

The New Delhi-based research station, which conducted underwater scanning of the dam to ascertain the cracks with the help of a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV), said the power dam and its left spillway were free from danger.

A few cracks were spotted in the concrete portion of spillways of the dam in the 1990s. They were repaired in accordance with the suggestions given by Hirakud Dam Cracks Review Panel and Dam Safety Review Panel. The CSMRS was engaged to assess the condition of the cracks after the repair work. The Central Water Commission had asked the water resource department to ask CSMRS, Delhi, to scan the dam.

Chief engineer of the Hirakud dam project Harmohan Pradhan said the CSMRS had submitted its report. "The cracks have been repaired. However, photographs taken by the ROV show some marks. This is a minor problem. We will analyse it properly. It could be silt. We have decided to engage divers to examine it," said Pradhan.

"The work is likely to start from November. We will repair it under the dam rehabilitation and improvement project of the World Bank," he added.

Pradhan also said the CSMRS is yet to submit its report on the right spillway of the dam. "We think the report on the right spillway will be submitted within a week," Pradhan said.

The CSMRS conducted the underwater scanning of the dam on December 7 last year. It was done with the help of ROV in two phases. The spillway portion of the dam was scanned in the first phase and the power dam was scanned in the second phase.

The first phase scanning began on December 7 and was completed on December 26 last year and the second phase scanning began on March 18 and was completed on April 4 this year.