Dilip Bisoi

Bhubaneswar: The central-sector utility company, National Hydro Power Corp (NHPC), and the Orissa government have finalised a deal for setting up three hydro- power projects at Sindol on river Mahanadi downstream Hirakud dam. The NHPC and the state government-owned Orissa Hydro Power Corp (OHPC) will be signing an MoU for the purpose next week.

BERHAMPUR: A long march demanding linking of major rivers of Orissa was flagged off from Kasinagar in Gajapati district of south Orissa on Friday.

Former deputy speaker Ramachandra Panda will launch a nine-day padayatra from Kashinagar tomorrow to create awareness among the pepole about the need of Mahanadi- Rushikulya-Bansadhara river linking project .

For a long time, Panda has been demanding a barrage on Mhanadi river at Subalaya to link dry Rushikulya river through a canal .

ANGUL: The elephants of Mahanadi elephant reserve have been wreaking havoc in some pockets of Angul district after their corridors have been restricted by the Rengali canal, Samal barrage and Rengali dam.

SAMBALPUR: Even as a second bridge over the river Mahanadi here is on the cards, the existing one has virtually become a death trap.

Constructed at Durgapali in 1951 at the immediate downstream of the Hirakud dam project, the 840-metre-long bridge has been the backbone of NH-6.

BHUBANESWAR: The average financial loss of the State per annum due to different disasters has been estimated at Rs 1,241.82 crore.

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has plans to set up 17 more reservoirs as a flood control measure. At present there 8 large and 37 medium reservoirs in the State on different river systems. Besides, work on 18 more projects are on. The projects on river Mahanadi which are on progress are Lower Indra, Manjore, Ret, Titlagarh and Lower Suktel.

BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa Government today sought to allay fears of a flood in the downstream of Mahanadi river system since opening of 33 sluice gates of Hirakud reservoir has led to apprehensions of inundation in coastal parts of the State.

The water level of Mahanadi showed a rising trend following heavy rains triggered by a low pressure as three more persons died due to flash floods and rainrelated incidents on Wednesday.

Worst hit were southern districts Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada and Ganjam as many places remained cut off with flash floods in hilly streams and rivulets breaching and submerging roads.