Dredging in Hirakud reservoir in progress

Sambalpur, Jun 15 (UNI) The much awaited dredging inside Hirakud reservoir was taken up and is expected to be completed before end of the current month.

The dredging is done to open a passage to Sasan canal and facilitate smooth flow of water to the paddy fields in summer.

The work began on April 28 and more than one lakh cubic metres of earth had been excavated so far, Superintendent Engineer J B Mohapatra said.

Dredging was required as the mouth of the canal was at a height higher than the water level in the reservoir during summer and there was problem in discharge of water even if there was sufficient water in reservoir.

Nearly 2.5 to 3.00 metre depth and 36 metre wide canal (water route) was made inside to ensure smootth flow of water to the canal.

Farmers at the tail end of the canal would also not face any problem in getting water, he said.

Development commissioner cum additional chief secretary R N Bahidar, Sambalpur Collector Pradipta Kumar Patnaik, senior officers from water resources department visited the work site and expressed satisfaction at the progress of the work.

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