No Fear of Flood Despite Water Release from Hirakud Dam, Says Odisha Govt

The Odisha state government has assured that there is no threat of flood in the Mahanadi river system, despite the recent release of water from Hirakud Dam. Officials are monitoring the situation closely, with a nodal officer dispatched to Cuttack. Water levels remain under control amid heavy rainfall in north Odisha.

The Odisha state government has announced that there is no risk of flooding in the Mahanadi river system, despite the release of water from Hirakud Dam, which raised levels at the Mundali barrage in Cuttack district.

The season's first floodwater was released from the Hirakud dam through 20 gates on Sunday. This water is expected to pass through the Mundali barrage by Tuesday night.

'There is no threat of flood following the water release,' said Bhakta Ranjan Mohanty, engineer-in-chief (EIC) of Water Resources. Authorities remain vigilant, and a nodal officer has been dispatched to Cuttack to monitor the situation.

The Hirakud Dam's water level stood at 614.47 feet against a full reservoir capacity of 630 feet as of Tuesday morning. Officials plan to close some gates to manage water levels, which are declining. However, heavy rainfall in north Odisha has raised water levels in the Jalaka river beyond the warning level, though it remains below the danger mark.

In a virtual meeting, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja reviewed the flood preparedness of district collectors across several districts. Multipurpose cyclone shelters and emergency response teams are on standby, with heavy rainfall expected in multiple districts on Wednesday.

(With inputs from agencies.)