Bhubaneswar- With continuous rainfall in the upper catchment of the Mahanadi river, authorities at Odisha’s Hirakud Dam have announced plans to release the season’s first floodwater on July 6. The discharge will follow a customary puja ceremony at the dam site and will begin at 10 a.m. through Gate 7 of the reservoir.
The Water Resources Department made the decision after a noticeable rise in the water level of the reservoir, which stood at 603 feet as of Thursday. According to Chief Engineer Sushil Behera, the final decision on how many gates to open will be made on the day of the release, based on real-time water inflow data and weather conditions.
Although the reservoir’s full capacity is 630 feet, standard protocol mandates that the level should be maintained around 605 feet until the end of July to manage further inflow. Officials have warned that if rainfall subsides, the level may still rise slightly to 606 or 607 feet due to upstream inflows.
The decision comes at a time when meteorological alerts signal intense weather activity over north Odisha and adjoining parts of West Bengal. An orange warning for very heavy rainfall has been issued for Sambalpur district on July 3, followed by a yellow warning on July 4. The rainfall is attributed to a cyclonic circulation currently active over the region.
Residents living downstream of the dam and along the tributaries of the Mahanadi have been advised to stay cautious, as water levels in these channels may rise once the floodwater is released. Authorities have assured that early warnings will be issued at least 48 hours in advance to avoid any emergency situation.
The upcoming water release is part of the dam’s annual flood management routine and is essential for maintaining a safe water level throughout the monsoon season.
