WRD clarifies
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IMPHAL, Sep 19 : The Water Resources Department (WRD) has clarified that the recent operation of the spillway gates of Thoubal Dam was carried out to discharge excess water caused by exceptionally heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of Ukhrul and Kamjong district.
A press release issued by WRD said that Litan in Ukhrul recorded nearly 27 mm of rainfall on September 13 and 70 mm of rainfall on September 14 and this two day spell constitutes the highest rainfall received in the last five years resulting in an extraordinary inflow into the reservoir.
Saying that the reservoir water level rose from 875.6 m on September 13 to 878.10 m on September by 1.30 pm on September 14, it added that the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of Thoubal Dam is 880.7 m and the water level had reached just 2.6 m below this limit.
Without timely release, there would have been a serious risk to the safety of the dam, it added.
The WRD further emphasised that the Thoubal Dam reservoir absorbed and stored a significant portion of the floodwater, thereby reducing the peak discharge downstream.
"Without the dam, unchecked inflows would have directly entered the Thoubal River, leading to even more severe flooding in the valley", it said and added that WRD is in the process of preparing a comprehensive Emergency Action Plan (EAP) to strengthen flood response and structured communication during extreme events.
The department reiterated that the opening of the spillway gates was gradual, controlled and necessary for dam safety and flood moderation in view of the highest rainfall in the past five years.
A press release issued by WRD said that Litan in Ukhrul recorded nearly 27 mm of rainfall on September 13 and 70 mm of rainfall on September 14 and this two day spell constitutes the highest rainfall received in the last five years resulting in an extraordinary inflow into the reservoir.
Saying that the reservoir water level rose from 875.6 m on September 13 to 878.10 m on September by 1.30 pm on September 14, it added that the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of Thoubal Dam is 880.7 m and the water level had reached just 2.6 m below this limit.
Without timely release, there would have been a serious risk to the safety of the dam, it added.
The WRD further emphasised that the Thoubal Dam reservoir absorbed and stored a significant portion of the floodwater, thereby reducing the peak discharge downstream.
"Without the dam, unchecked inflows would have directly entered the Thoubal River, leading to even more severe flooding in the valley", it said and added that WRD is in the process of preparing a comprehensive Emergency Action Plan (EAP) to strengthen flood response and structured communication during extreme events.
The department reiterated that the opening of the spillway gates was gradual, controlled and necessary for dam safety and flood moderation in view of the highest rainfall in the past five years.