Bhubaneswar: The Water Resources Department has decided to open 40 sluice gates of the Hirakud Dam to release the flood water downstream. The decision was taken in order to taper down the pressure on the reservoir whose water level was 626.08 feet at 12 noon on Tuesday.
Till today afternoon, water was being released through 26 gates when the inflow was 7.88 lakh cusec and outflow was 4.45 lakh cusec. Mundali recorded 11.85 lakh cusec water passing through the barrage at 12 noon.
“The regulate the water inflow and outflow and maintain a cushioning layer for the dam we have decided to open another 14 sluice gates, in phases,” said Engineer-in-Chief, Bijay Mishra said.
By 4 pm today, another 5 sluice gates were opened, taking the total to 31. Sources said, 9 more sluice gates will be opened by 8 pm tonight.
