Flood gates of Bhopal’s Kailasot dam set to open

BHOPAL: For the first time in three years, flood gates of Bhopal’s Kaliasot dam, are set to open after heavy rainfall in Madhya Pradesh state capital. The dam gets much of its water after nearby Upper Lake sluice gates are opened. According to Madhya Pradesh water resources department (MPWRD) officials, Kaliasot dam flood gates may open as early as 6pm on Thursday.
Overnight, Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) opened four sluice gates of Upper Lake at around 2pm on Wednesday night."Four flood gates of Upper Lake were opened till noon on Thursday. We have kept two gates opened," said BMC Upper Lake monitoring in charge, Rakesh Nigam at 2.30pm on Thursday. For the last two years, the millennia-old lake could not touch full tank levels, leading to an unprecedented water crisis in Bhopal.
Hundreds of city residents are reaching Bhadbhada area, making the dam site feel like a tourist destination. Police are deployed in the area to avoid any untoward incident. In the last three weeks, Bhopal has received 60% more rainfall than normal. Met department has warned of another two days of rainfall in the city. Senior officials from BMC and MPWRD are in constant communication, said BMC city engineer AK Pawar. "Water from the Upper Lake is being monitored," he said.
It is for the fourth time this monsoon season that Upper sluice gates have been opened. The outflow has increased water levels in nearby filled Kaliasot Dam. "We anticipate at the current rate of water flowing into the dam, the flood gates would be opened by 6pm on Thursday," said MPWRD executive engineer, Ashok Saxena. It would be for the first time since 2016, that the dam would be full to capacity. Water from the dam is utilised for irrigation purpose.
Meanwhile, overnight heavy rainfall also leads to waterlogging. Some trains from Rajasthan have also been delayed. "Isolated cases of waterlogging and tree falling have been reported from about 10 location," said BMC emergency call centre, in charge, Iftekar Khan. Areas affected include Cholla road, JNCH hospital, Bhadbhada intersection and Idgah Hills.