Odisha Opens Five Hirakud Gates, Starts Controlled Releases From Southern Reservoirs Ahead of Cyclone Murasu

With Cyclone Murasu forecast to cross the south Andhra Pradesh coast on the night of November 2-3 and push heavy rain into the region, Odisha's Water Resources Department moved on Sunday evening to create flood cushion in its reservoirs: five gates of Hirakud Dam have been opened for a controlled release into the Mahanadi system, and discharges have also begun from the Baghalati and Ghodahada reservoirs in the south, with a phased plan drawn up for Badanala and Harabhangi.

Awaaz Punjab Investigations Desk1 November 20263 min readRead in all 3 languages

Bhubaneswar, November 1: The Odisha government has begun advance reservoir management across the state ahead of the approaching cyclone and anticipated heavy rainfall, opening five gates of Hirakud Dam and starting controlled water releases to create additional storage capacity and minimise the risk of flooding, the state's Water Resources Department said on Sunday.

Source: The News Hashtag

At Hirakud, the controlled discharge has commenced in view of rising inflows from the upstream catchment and the possibility of a further increase in water levels. The department said the precautionary release is aimed at regulating the anticipated inflow into the Mahanadi system due to possible cyclone-induced rainfall and creating additional storage space in the reservoir. The measures are being led by the department under Principal Secretary Subha Sharma, Tathya reported.

Source: Tathya

The releases come as the IMD forecasts Cyclone Murasu crossing the coast as a severe cyclonic storm on Monday night. Cyclone Murasu: IMD red warning and landfall forecast

5 gatesOpened at Hirakud Dam for controlled discharge

85 cumecsRelease being maintained from Baghalati reservoir

115 cumecsRelease being maintained from Ghodahada reservoir

~60%Storage level the southern reservoirs are being brought down to

In southern Odisha, water discharge from the Baghalati and Ghodahada reservoirs also commenced on Sunday evening, with releases of 85 cumecs and 115 cumecs respectively being maintained to bring their storage down to around 60 per cent. The department said the releases are being carried out in the presence of the Additional Chief Engineer of the Rushikulya-Bahuda Basin, in accordance with prescribed standard operating procedures, and the Collector and District Magistrate of Srikakulam has also been informed.

A phased release plan has also been drawn up for two more reservoirs. Badanala is currently at 78.46 per cent storage with a spillway discharge of 102.13 cumecs, which is scheduled to rise to 175 cumecs and be maintained until the afternoon of November 2 to bring storage down to around 60 per cent. Harabhangi is at 85.55 per cent storage with a discharge of 257 cumecs; that discharge will continue until the morning of November 2, after which it is planned to rise to 360 cumecs until the evening, again targeting storage of about 60 per cent.

The department said it is continuously monitoring reservoir levels, discharge quantities and downstream flow to ensure the releases remain regulated and safe, describing the advance measures as part of the state's preparedness to manage additional rainfall runoff and reduce the possibility of flooding during the impending weather system.

Sources