Inadequate rainfall persists in Hydro catchment areas, Irrigation Dept. says

• Reservoir water levels are stagnating at just 26%

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  

Despite recent rainfall in the South-Western areas of the country, the overall hydro catchment situation remains dire, with no substantial increase in rainfall observed in other districts, and reservoir water levels stagnating at just 26%, warns Irrigation (Hydrology) Director S.P.C. Sugeeshwara.  

He urges residents in these areas to conserve spring water resources for agricultural needs, given the continued scarcity. While the South-Western and Central Provinces have seen increased rainfall over the past eight days, leading to minor floods in some areas, the broader concern remains water shortages in hydro catchment zones.  
Due to heightened precipitation in the Western Province, as well as the Galle and Matara Districts in the Southern Province, Central Province, and Sabaragamuwa Province, some regions have experienced minor flooding. As a response to the surging water levels in catchment areas, the Kukule Ganga Hydro Power Plant’s spill gates were opened, discharging water at a rate of 80 cubic metres per second.  

This release resulted in flooding in low-lying areas of Bulathsinhala, affecting the Bulathsinhala-Molkawa road and various byways near Kuda Ganga. Further, the increased water levels in the Nilwala and Gin Ganga rivers led to additional flooding in low-lying regions.  

Sugeeshwara cautions that if substantial rainfall occurs in the future within areas adjacent to the Kalu Ganga, Nilwala Ganga, Gin Ganga, Bentara Ganga, and Attanagalu Oya, flood threats in low-lying regions could become more pronounced.