More gates of Hirakud Dam opened to release excess water

The Hirakud Dam authorities on Monday opened more gates to release excess water from the reservoir even as the state government asked the collectors of Keonjhar and Jajpur districts to take all steps in view of the Baitarani river crossing the danger level.

In view of rainfall in the upper catchment areas of the Mahanadi river, the Hirakud Dam authorities on Monday opened seven more gates taking the total number of gates opened to 14, an official statement said.

The move was taken to maintain the water level in the reservoir between 619 feet and 620 ft against the full storage capacity of 630 ft.

The water level in Hirakud dam stood at 620.45 feet at 6 pm, while inflow in the reservoir was 1,54,337 cusec and outflow 2,37,186 cusec, it said.

Water discharge at Khairmal stood at 2,46,000 cusec, while it was 1,89,875 cusec at Barmul and 2,40,000 cusec at Munduli in Cuttack, it said