Authorities of the Hirakud Dam in Odisha's Sambalpur district today released excess water for first time this year to the down stream of river Mahanadi with the water level rising 623 feet in the reservoir.
The water was released through seven sluice gates after a traditional puja by the dam authorities.
There are plans to open ten sluice gates of the dam in phases.
Meanwhile, the water resources department has alerted the authorities of 12 down stream districts to make people aware about the flow of excess water in river Mahanadi.
The 12 districts which have been put on alert are Sambalpur, Bargarh, Sonepur, Angul, Boudh, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Kandhamal, Khurda, Jagatsinghpur, Kndrapara and Puri.
"There is no immediate threat for the people living by the river side in the 12 districts. There is also no flood threat," said Water Resources secretary P K Jena.
