Bhubaneswar: Rejecting alleged water
"mismanagement" at Hirakud dam that led to a high flood in
the delta region of Mahanadi River, Orissa government on Wednesday
informed governor M C Bhandare that there was no need to set
up a new committee to enquire whether the guideline for
discharge of water from the reservoir was maintained.
Instead, the state government said an old technical
team would look into the implementation of Rule Curve for the
reservoir, official sources said.
"The state government today submitted its reply to Raj
Bhavan here in response to Bhandare`s query on alleged water
mismanagement at Hirakud dam," chief secretary B K Patnaik
said.
He said an old technical team headed by the
Engineer-in-Chief (EIC) of water resources department, would
investigate into the alleged violation of Rule Curve for water
management of Hirakud reservoir.
"The state government does not feel that setting up
another committee is needed as a technical panel already
exist in the state," water resources secretary Suresh
Mohapatra said, adding that the state government had set up
such a committee in 2009.
Bhandare in his letter to the state government had
suggested setting up of a technical committee comprising
members from Central Water Commission (CMC), advocates, a
woman and some technical persons.
The existing committee could consult technical persons
from outside the state if required, the state government said
in its report to the governor. The existing committee already
have members having expertise in water management in Mahanadi
river system.
The committee had also been told to suggest steps to
control flood in Mahanadi river system in more effective
manner, Mohapatra said.
PTI
