Sambalpur- In response to continuous rainfall and heavy inflows from Chhattisgarh, the Hirakud Dam authorities have released this season’s first floodwater today, marking the official onset of monsoon water regulation from Asia’s longest earthen dam.
The release began with the opening of sluice gate number 7 early in the morning. Gradually, the dam management opened a total of twelve gates—eight on the left and four on the right—to effectively discharge the rising water levels from the reservoir.
As of 9 AM, the water level stood at 609.54 feet, with an inflow of 1,30,028 cusecs and an outflow of 38,164 cusecs. Among this, 34,313 cusecs were channeled through the power channel for electricity generation, while 3,223 cusecs were diverted for irrigation purposes, and 234 cusecs were drawn by industrial units.
For agricultural support, water has been released into the Bargarh main canal (2,755 cusecs), Sasan main canal (400 cusecs), and Sambalpur distributary (68 cusecs). These regulated flows aim to support ongoing farming operations across the region.
The situation has been further influenced by upstream developments, notably the opening of 46 gates of the Kalma Barrage in Chhattisgarh last Thursday. With the subsequent opening of the remaining gates, the Mahanadi river system has experienced a substantial rise in water volume, adding pressure to downstream management strategies.
Last year, the first floodwater release from Hirakud occurred on July 28, when the reservoir had reached 617.29 feet, indicating that this year’s release has come earlier due to heavier early monsoon rains.
With downstream rivers and tributaries now expected to swell, the Chief Engineer of the Mahanadi Basin has issued a public advisory urging residents to stay alert, avoid venturing into rivers, and refrain from any activities near the water bodies as a safety measure.
This controlled yet essential release from Hirakud marks the beginning of seasonal flood regulation, ensuring both agricultural support and flood risk mitigation across Odisha’s riverine regions.
