Cuttack: The civic administration had to close all sluice gates used to release rainwater from the main drains into the Mahanadi and Kathajodi on Monday after flood waters raised the rivers' levels.

Municipal commissioner Bikash Ranjan Mohapatra saidthe gates had to be closed over fears of back flow from the rivers.

The gates of the main storm water channels at Khannagar and Matagajpur that release water into the Kathajodi and Gulgali and Jobra that empty into the Mahanadi enable faster release of water during heavy rain.

But when flood waters in the two rivers pass through the city, the storm water channels become almost dysfunctional as sluice gates cannot be opened to release the water.

"We have already positioned six 82HP (horse power) pumps at Khannagar to ensure quick pumping of rainwater from the main drain into the Kathajodi," Mohapatra said.

"The process has already started."

An 8km-long open channel forms the spine of the surface water drainage system, branches of which extend to older parts of the city. It is possible to prevent inundation from the main drain by diverting its flow into the Taladanda canal during heavy rain. This apart, the flow from main drains in the eastern part of the city can also be diverted into the Kathajodi.

There are 10 sluice gates - four at Khannagar, two at Matagajpur and four at Matrubhavan - to divert flow. However, release of water through the gate at Matrubhavan from a main drain into the Taladanda canal is also not possible as it is already in spate following release of flood water in the Mahanadi into it at Jobra Barrage.

Mayor Meenakshi Behera told The Telegraph that six high-powered pumps were operating at Matrubhavan to pump out water from the main drain into the canal.

"As the water level has gone up because of the flow of flood waters in the two rivers, we have to depend on the pumps in case of heavy rain," Behera said.

Cuttack received 271.2mm rain between 8.30am on Friday and 5.30pm on Saturday, with 211mm in less than six hours between.

Even when all the sluice gates were open, over-flowing main drains left roads under knee-deep water in 50 per cent area of the city. While the water has receded in most parts, several low-lying areas continue to be inundated even after two days.