Colombo, Oct. 23 (Daily Mirror) - Spill gates have been opened at seven major reservoirs and three medium-sized reservoirs, while eight major reservoirs and eight medium-sized reservoirs are spilling, according to the Irrigation Department.
Irrigation Director (Water Management) Eng. H.M.P.S.D. Herath urged people living downstream of reservoirs that are spilling or releasing water to remain vigilant about changes in river water levels.
“People living in downstream areas of reservoirs that are spilling or releasing water through open gates should remain vigilant and strictly follow safety instructions issued by the Irrigation Department and local authorities,” he said.
According to the department’s reservoir status report issued at 9 a.m. today (23), the Deduru Oya Reservoir in Kurunegala was releasing 5,250 cubic feet of water per second (cusecs), while the Rajangana Reservoir in Anuradhapura was releasing 4,905 cusecs.
The Angamuwa Reservoir in Anuradhapura was releasing 1,688 cusecs, while the Ambakolawewa Reservoir was releasing 879 cusecs. The Usgala Siyambalangamuwa Reservoir was releasing 826 cusecs.
The Kimbulwana Oya Reservoir was releasing 594 cusecs, while the Alikota Ara Reservoir in Monaragala was releasing 682 cusecs.
Among the medium-sized reservoirs, the Peramaduwa Reservoir in Trincomalee was releasing 650 cusecs.
The department said the overall effective storage of the country's 74 major reservoirs stood at 42 per cent, with an effective storage volume of 1,246,865 acre-feet out of a total capacity of 3,114,407 acre-feet.
Kurunegala recorded an effective storage level of 91.3 per cent, followed by Matara at 90.4 per cent and Hambantota at 68 per cent. Matale recorded 100 per cent effective storage, while Nuwara Eliya recorded 99.3 per cent.