Hatadihi: Water supply to farmlands and release of water from Salandi dam at Hadagada under this block in Keonjhar district will now be streamlined as an automation system was put in place at the dam. Rs 40 crore has been spent for the system which was funded by the World Bank. The dam plays a key role in boosting agriculture in Bhadrak and Keonjhar districts through irrigation.
The dam’s construction work was started in 1960 at a cost of Rs 7.31 lakh while it was completed in 1976.
With a height of 85.95 metre, the dam is equipped with eight radial gates and three sluice gates. The height of its earth dam is 48.77 metre while it is 640 metre long.
The area of the dam built across river Salandi is 5,445 hectares. The dam is capable of storing an average of 1540 mm rainwater annually and 1422 mm particularly during the monsoon period.
In case of floods, the dam can discharge 4245 cusecs of water. Its flood reduce level is 82.30 metre while maximum water level has been Rs 83.21 metre.
A barrage with an area of 94 hectares is at Bidyadharpur. Two main canals have emerged from the barrage with the left side canal running through Bhadrak and the right side one passing through Keonjhar.
Thousands of farmers have been able to cultivate paddy and vegetables availing irrigation facility from the dam.
The left side canal irrigates 49.776 hectares in kharif season and 10.117 hectares in rabi season. The irrigation coverage of the right-side canal in Kharif season is 43.211 hectares and 26.260 hectares in rabi season.
A team from the office of the state dam safety authority had earlier taken stock of various aspects of the dam and studied the need for making it more efficient.
In 2015-16, Rs 4 crore was spent towards installation of the automation system. After its completion, the authorities have submitted the fund utilisation certificate to the World Bank in 2016-17.
Giridhari Satpathy, executive engineer of the Salandi dam, said the dam is functioning rightly. “With automation system, all work will be achieved easily and smoothly. As all branch canals are in right condition, water supply will be smooth,” he added. PNN