BHUBANESWAR: The floods in the Mahanadi river system have once again fuelled criticism over the water management with experts calling for an overhauling of the strategy.“Even as the water in the reservoir kept increasing steadily from July 20, the dam authority kept watching the situation,” Water Initiatives Odisha alleged on Friday as 59 gates were flung open to discharge the inflow. The reservoir level was maintained at 595 ft for most parts of July but it started rising since July 20.On July 24, it touched 601.75 ft and by August 1, it had reached 607.27 ft.Then it continued to increase and from August 9, it crossed 620- ft level.As per the Rule Curve, the recommended water level for August 1 is 590 ft but it actually was 607.27 ft.On August 13, the recommended level should have been 606 ft but was kept at 613.58 ft.To maintain a flood cushioning space in the reservoir so that it does not reach the Full Reservoir Level of 630 ft by October 1, the rule curve suggests the level be maintained between 611 ft and 624 ft during September 1 to 11.However, the water level in the reservoir was more than 624 ft from September 1 to 5 which then increased further, Ranjan Panda of WIO said adding, it virtually forced the dam management to release huge amount of flood water in the last two days.Although the Government has put the responsibility of the flood on heavy downpour at the upper catchment and release of water from Chhattisgarh, it was aware of the predictions by the IMD.“It proves that the dam management authority has not been following a coordinated approach with Chhattisgarh and IMD.It is about time the State Government established a proper communication and clearly defined coordinated action with Chhattisgarh on management and planning of Mahanadi river by legally binding water management and basin planning treaty,” Panda said.
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