Sambalpur: In a bid to reduce the pressure and enhance the flow of flood waters through the sluice gates of Hirakud dam, an additional spillway will be constructed at the reservoir.
According to sources, the additional spillway proposed will increase the flood water discharge capacity of Hirakud dam. It will be funded by the World Bank and is expected to be completed within 30 months with an estimated cost of Rs 370 crore.
The length of the proposed spillway would be around 85 metre with five crest gates enabling discharge of 3.22 lakh cusec, it was learnt.
“The project work will be undertaken under the supervision of internationally acclaimed experts as the project is being funded by the World Bank. The design has been prepared by the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the works will be monitored by us at different levels,” Jyotirmaya Rath, Chief Engineer of Hirakud Dam said.
“The project will be a joint venture of TATA Projects limited and a Turkish company ‘Ages’. Five spillway gates and a 2-km-long channel will be constructed which will discharge the additional flow into the Mahanadi River,” Sunil Gupta, Project manager of TATA projects limited said.
The locals who were earlier protesting the project have given their consent after the administration assured them of ‘rehabilitation and resettlement’. A colony for the displaced is being constructed at Mohammadpur near the dam with the provision of adequate financial assistance for the future residents.
“Two patches of land have been identified for the displaced locals, following which; leveling and other processes are underway. There are minor problems in the villages nearby the rehabilitation colony which will be resolved and the construction work will commence,” Sambalpur collector Samarth Verma said.
It is worth mentioning that Hirakud Dam presently has 64 sluice gates and 34 crest gates for releasing flood waters.
PNN