Sambalpur, Mar 9: Work for construction of an additional spillway at Hirakud Dam in Odisha will start soon, enhancing the flood water discharge capacity of the reservoir, officials said.

A nine-member team comprising experts from the World Bank and Central Water Commission (CWC) visited the proposed site for construction at the left dyke of the Hirakud Dam, and the rehabilitation colony on Saturday.

The team also inspected the right dyke of the dam, power channel, its gates, and reviewed documents regarding additional spillway projects, they said.

Chief Engineer of Upper Mahanadi Basin, Sushil Kumar Behera, said tender for the additional spillway work will be floated soon after getting the administrative approval from the government.

According to the sources, the project will entail a cost of around Rs 884 crore.The length of the proposed additional spillway dam will be 91 metres with five sluice gates. The new spillway channel will originate from near the Gandhi Minar on the left dyke of the reservoir and meet river Mahanadi near the Jawahar Udyan, sources said.

At present, the dam has 98 gates, including 64 sluice gates and 34 crest gates, to release flood water.

After the construction of the additional spillway, the dam will be able to handle up to 25 lakh cusecs of water from 15 lakh cusecs in case of incessant rain and flash floods, the sources said.

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