Orissa government submits report to Governor, dismissed mismanagement of Hirakud reservoir

BHUBANESWAR:The Orissa government on Wednesday reiterated that it has not mismanaged release of excess water from Hirakud dam leadin g to high floods downstream last month in several districts in the state.

In a report submitted to Governor Muralidhar Chandrakant Bhandare, the water resources department has claimed that there were no lapses in the regulation of reservoir level and water was discharged from the dam in accordance with the Rule Curve.

Rule Curve is a set up codified document that governs the inflow and outflow of water.

The governor, acting on a memorandum alleging mis-management of discharge of water from hirakud reservoir, submitted by the Congress - the main opposition party in the state Assembly, had sought details on flood water discharge from Hirakud reservoir.

The governor had even suggested the government to constitute a committee under the chairmanship of a retired Central Water Commission ( CWC) chairman to study into the allegation of mismanagement of the reservoir water.

“We have submitted the report to the governor. We have maintained that there was absolutely no mistake in the management of water level,” water resources secretary Suresh Mohapatra said.

To a query on the governor’s suggestion for constituting a probe committee with an ex-chairman of CWC, Mr Mohapatra said there was no need for a new body as the state government had already a technical team to look into matter.

“The state government’s technical committee which is headed by Engineer-In-Chief and chief engineers is competent enough to study into the matter,” Mr Mohapatra said.

Chief secretary B.K. Patnaik, while ruling out possibility of mishandling of reservoir, said the government tried its best to see that the flood water passed in the rivers without causing much damage to the life and property.

At least 80 people had died in 21 districts that were seriously hit by two spells of high flood in the Mahanadi and its tributaries and major rivers in northern Orissa districts.