RAJARATA RESERVOIRS FILLED TO THE BRIM DUE TO HEAVY RAINS

All tanks and reservoirs in the Rajarata region were reported to have been filled to the brim and several of them were spilling over due to the heavy rain being experienced in the area at present. The Mahakandarawa Reservoir in Mihintale started spilling over and the Irrigation Engineers were forced to open the spill gates by two feet to release the excess water into the Kandarawa-oya. This had resulted in the river overflowing and submerging the MihintaleMahakandarawa Road by two feet.

Anuradhapura Regional Irrigation Engineer Lasindu Kotawilaarachchi said the spill gates would be opened further if the water level increased.

Meanwhile all the six spill gates of the Nachchaduwa River were opened by five feet last morning. Engineer-in-charge of the reservoir Shayamini Ilangasingha said the excess water was being released into the Malwathuoya river creating a flood threat in Anuradhapura sacred area and the Saliyapura area. She said the road from the Anuradhapura Railway station to the sacred area had gone under four feet of water.

Irrigation Engineers said the water level in the Kalawewa and Rajanganawewa Reservoirs were rising further and that the emergency spill gates of the Kalawewa Reservoir were opened by five feet. They said the eight emergency spill gates in the Rajangana Reservoir were opened and excess water released into the Kala Oya.