Rajarata tanks overflowing following heavy rains

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional District group corr.

Almost all small, medium and large-scale tanks and reservoirs in the Anuradhapura district except for a few major irrigation schemes have started to spill. Zonal Irrigation Director Wasantha Bandara Palugaswewa said, that Basawakkulama, Mahakanadarawa and Tisawewa started spilling from December 26 evening whereas 60 tanks out of 86 medium tanks in the region are spilling.

Six spill gates of Nachchaduwa have also been opened to divert water to Tisawewa, according to Palugaswewa. “For the first time over a long period, the water capacity of Padaviya tank has reached 75,000 acre feet.

The total water capacity of the tank is 85,000 acre feet. The water level has almost at spill level. If rains continue Wahalkada and Huruluwewa tanks too start spilling,” he said.