sambalpur:24/7/17:This monsoon’s first floodwaters were released from the Hirakud Dam in the district on Sunday morning. The waters were released through gate number 7 of the dam at around 10.50 am following a ceremonial puja.
Later, the floodwaters were also released through gate number 2 into the lower basins of river Mahanadi, said dam project Chief Engineer Harmohan Pradhan.
There is no threat of floods as the downstream of the Mahanadi is dry. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was followed before releasing the waters, he added.
With opening of the two gates, 30,000 cusecs of floodwaters was being released into the lower basins of the Mahanadi. The water level of Hirakud was recorded at 607.60 ft with an inflow of 97,320 cusecs by 11 am.