Sambalpur: With rising inflow of floodwater into the Hirakud reservoir, authorities opened four more sluice gates Thursday, taking the total number of gates currently discharging excess water to 20.
According to officials, 13 gates on the left dyke and seven on the right dyke have been opened. As of 9:30 p.m. Thursday, the water level at the reservoir dropped to 628.83 feet.
The latest reports said the inflow was about 297,903 cusecs, while the outflow stood at 361,432 cusecs. Of this, 327,040 cusecs are being released into the Mahanadi through the 20 sluice gates, 31,949 cusecs through the power channel for electricity generation, 243 cusecs for industrial use, and 2,200 cusecs for irrigation — including 2,193 cusecs into the Bargarh canal and 7 cusecs into the Sambalpur canal.
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The reservoir’s flood control office reported 54.18 mm of rainfall in the upstream areas and 7.08 mm in the downstream areas over the past 24 hours.
PNN