Sambalpur: The authorities of Odisha’s Hirakud Dam on Sunday closed three spillway gates following a steady decline in water inflow into the reservoir, signalling an improvement in the flood situation across the Mahanadi basin. With the latest decision, floodwater is now being discharged through 19 spillway gates, down from the 22 gates that had been opened earlier to manage rising water levels.
According to officials, the volume of water entering the Hirakud reservoir has been consistently decreasing over the past few days. Meanwhile, the outflow has continued to remain higher than the inflow, leading to a gradual reduction in the reservoir’s water level.
Considering the improving hydrological conditions, the dam authorities decided to shut three spillway gates while continuing controlled water release through the remaining 19 gates. The move comes as part of ongoing efforts to regulate the reservoir level and minimise the risk of flooding in downstream areas.
The floodwater released from the Hirakud Dam on July 31 reached Mundali barrage near Cuttack on Sunday, resulting in a temporary rise in the water level of the Mahanadi River, which had begun receding in recent days.
Officials, however, indicated that the overall flood situation is expected to improve further as there has been no fresh spell of heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas of the Mahanadi basin. The absence of significant rainfall has reduced inflow into the reservoir, allowing authorities to gradually scale down water discharge.
The reduction in spillway operations is likely to bring relief to residents living in low-lying and flood-prone areas along the Mahanadi and its tributaries, who have been closely monitoring the river’s water level over the past several days.
Authorities continue to keep a close watch on weather conditions and reservoir levels and have assured that any further decisions regarding gate operations will be taken based on real-time inflow, rainfall forecasts and downstream river conditions to ensure public safety.
The Hirakud Dam, one of the longest earthen dams in the world, plays a crucial role in flood control, irrigation and power generation in Odisha. During the monsoon season, its spillway operations are closely monitored as they directly influence water levels in the Mahanadi River and downstream districts.
