Bhubaneswar: The Central Water Commission (CWC) Thursday said plans are afoot to build another spillway (gate) for release of floodwater at the Hirakud Dam.
This was revealed at a presser on a two-day international dam safety conference beginning here February 13 this year.
The conference, which would witness a participation of hundreds of delegates from over 20 countries, would be jointly organised by the state government, Central Water Commission (CWC) and World Bank.
Speaking to reporters here, CWC chairman S Masood Husain said, “International Dam Safety Conference will be held in Bhubaneswar February 13 and 14. This will be the fifth conference. A World Bank programme on dam safety is underway in the country. This programme is based on the safety and maintenance issues of the old dams and the International Conference is a part of it.”
Experts, academicians and dam safety professionals of more than 30 foreign countries will participate in it, he added.
The CWC chairman further informed the media that he was in the city to invite the Chief Minister for the inaugural function of the conference and the CM has also accepted the proposal.
HIRAKUD FRET
CWC member (design) NK Mathur said they are going to construct another spillway (gate) for release of floodwater at the Hirakud Dam. The work contract has been awarded and the project would be completed in three years with an investment of about Rs 500 crore, Mathur added.
State Water Resources Secretary PK Jena said the Hirakud Dam was built based on the then available technology and now new methods have emerged.
As the existing spillway of the dam is not sufficient when excess floodwater enters into it, an additional spillway is being constructed at the right embankment, Jena added. He pointed out that such a construction is first-of-its-kind in the country.
“If it is built, it will help during severe floods. The two spillways can be used for floodwater release when required,” he added.
Hirakud Dam presently has 64 sluice gates and 34 crest gates for releasing floodwaters.