Anuradhapura reservoirs filled to capacity

Nimal Wijesinghe, Anuradhapura Additional district group correspondent

The heavy rain in the past two days have filled up most reservoirs to capacity. Out of 83 medium scale tanks about 40 are now in spate.

The Angamuwa tank started spilling yesterday and two sluice gates have been opened to drain out excess water.

Anuradhapura Regional Irrigation Director R.M.W. Ratnayake, told the Daily News that the Rajangana reservoir is only six inches below spill level of 35 feet.

The full capacity of the tank is 81,600 acre feet whereas today the capacity has reached 75,000 acre feet. The chart above shows the present water levels and the capacities of some of the major irrigation tanks.

In addition to the major tanks, medium and small tanks like Kadahathawewa, Pallekagama, Madukanda, Kammalakpalliya, Gulupthawewa, Magalagama, Hiripitiyagama and Ihala-Kagama have started spilling.

Irrigation authorities and police have warned farmer families residing close to canal banks of the major tanks to be vigilant.

It is reported that rains experienced in Anuradhapura district are so heavy that it has dvanced the spilling of tanks that normally take place if rains are regular in the end November on in first two weeks of December.