Odisha Cyclone Update: Two gates of Indravati opened after warning of possible cyclone Arnab and heavy rain. Water is being discharged by opening gates number 3 and 6 of the reservoir.
About 133 cusecs of water is being discharged through the two gates. The administration has informed the people of the downstream areas to be alert while the gates were opened as a precaution in view of the possible cyclone and rain.
The decision to open the gates was taken by the divisional officer in the presence of Bhagirathi Patra, Additional Chief Engineer, Indravati-Kolab Basin Office, Bariniput after assessing the condition of the dam.
While the water level in the dam is currently 640 meters, the gates will be closed when it decreases to 639 meters. The next decision will be taken after observing the rainfall and water flow in the coming days.
People have been advised not to go near rivers and reservoirs as there is a possibility of increase in the water level in the downstream areas.
Indravati Dam Opened Gates Earlier
Earlier on September 21, Indravati Dam opened gates after 7 long years. Heavy rains expected in Odisha due to low pressure. Keeping in view the possible rains, the gates of the Indravati reservoir have been opened after 7 years.
Out of the total 7 gates, gate number 6 was opened by 0.5 meters and water is being discharged. The administration has warned the people of the lower areas.
The maximum water storage capacity of the Indravati dam is 642 meters, while the water level was 640.29 meters when the gates were opened. Currently, 177.53 cusecs of water is entering the reservoir per second, while 203.28 cusecs of water was being discharged before the gates were opened. Now a total of 275.28 cusecs of water is being discharged.
It has been informed that the gates will be closed when the water level reaches 639.60 meters. It will be decided whether to open more gates or close them after observing the rainfall situation in the coming days. The gates of the reservoir were last opened in 2019.
