The water level in the water reservoir had been recorded at 621.60 feet on March 18 last year, while it was marked at 616.45-ft this morning. The water holding capacity of the reservoir is 630 ft,
Notably, water level in the Hirakud reservoir constructed on the Mahanadi had decreased drastically in 2016. The acute situation in availability of water in the Mahanadi had impacted life of people that year. The situation will be repeated if rains don’t occur in coming few days, opined experts.
They alleged that the State Government has not a little to maintain water level in the dam in summer. “Had barrages been constructed on Mahanadi tributaries in the upper catchment area in Odisha territory, the situation could not have been so grave,” they argued.
Barrages constructed on the Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh have blocked the water-flow, they said.