High water level in Hirakud aggravated flood

SAMBALPUR: The protest against diversion of water from Hirakud Dam Reservoir to industries has found a voice in the swelling Mahanadi that inundated many villages in Sambalpur, Bargarh, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur and Puri districts.
The heavy downpour in the neighbouring Chhattisgarh saw the water level in Hirakud dam rise menacingly. While low pressure triggered rains had created a floodlike situation in the State, it worsened after 59 of the 64 sluice gates were opened to discharge excess water. It is being alleged that violation of Rule Curve for maintaining water level in the dam aggravated the situation. To ensure that the State Government fulfils the commitment made in the MoUs to provide 105.912 cusec water to 13 industries, little flood cushioning space was left, according to sources in Hirakud Dam. A closer look at the water level maintained in the dam reveals that while the Rule Curve prescribes water level to be around 590 feet on August 1, it was standing at as high as 607.27 feet. All through the summer the Death Storage Limit (DSL) was kept above 590 feet and staggered at 594 feet in a bid to impress the farmers that the Government was concerned about irrigation. While on August 13, the recommended water level should have been 606 feet, the dam authorities retained it at 613.58 feet. Similarly, from September 1 to September 11, the water level should be maintained between 611 and 624 feet. However, the water reserve level was more than the prescribed.