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Last Updated : 2024-03-28 17:37:00
Power and Renewable Energy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya rejected rumours that the prevailing flood threat had been caused by the opening of spill gates in the hydro power reservoirs. He told the media that none of the reservoirs were at spill level to necessitate the opening of the spill gates.
“The quantity of water at the Mausakelle Reservoir is 30.9 per cent of its capacity and the Castlereagh Reservoir 36 per cent. These two main reservoirs need a much larger intake of water to reach spill level. Laxapana, Wimalasurendra and Canyon Reservoirs have reached spill level but however, spill overs at these smaller reservoirs will not create a flood threat. Dehiowita Division in the Kegalle District is the worst affected by the prevailing rains. Two schoolchildren had died after being buried under a mound of earth at Welangalla while two others are known to have been buried under a mound of earth when watching an earth slip at Ambalanpitiya. More than 2,000 families have been displaced in the area and steps are now being taken to provide urgent relief to those affected,” he said.
The minister said there was no need just now to open any of the spill gates in the reservoirs.
SPILL GATES Saturday, 27 May 2017 11:18 AM
Until waters reach Spill Level (SL) all rain in the catchment area is contained within the reservoirs - a blessing, If not the low lying areas will be inundated. Once SL is reached unless the gates are opened , the water will spilli over the spill-gates (SG) and could topple the dam. When SL is reached the SG/s are notched up just sufficiently to release water ( between the opened space between the dam crest and the bottom of the SG) keeping water at SL. Note - water so released is only the quantity of rain water falling within the catchment areas at that time..
SPILL LEVEL Saturday, 27 May 2017 11:51 AM
"spill overs at these smaller reservoirs will not create a flood threat " These termed ponds are only for cascade operation of the turbine/generators of the 5 generating (power) stations. Much rain (at any moment of time) in Areas upstream to these ponds (N, C, L)will invariably cause spilling conditions of these ponds
SPILL GATES Saturday, 27 May 2017 11:58 AM
The ponds at Canyon and Laxapana have spill gates which need be opened once spill level (SL) is reached (for safety reasons). The Pond at Norton ( referred to as Wimalasurendra) the water spills over the dam crest (there are no spill gates) However the quantity of water spilling over at any of these locations is only the amount of rain falling at that moment. NOT AN INTENTIONAL DISCHARGE OF WATER
SPILL GATES Saturday, 27 May 2017 12:14 PM
AND finally - There are times water is discharged (intentionally ! ) from the Storage dams of Castlereigh and Mousakelle (after due warnings to residents downstream) from the bottom outlet in the dams . This is not one during rainy days . As castlereigh has no Radial Gates (ie Spill gates) the control of water levels to prevent spill over (for safety) during rains is done by a special valve built into the dam. Once again it need be mentioned this discharged water is only the rain water falling at the moment in the catchment area. - hope DM allows these comments for the benefit of our readers ! !
Leo Saturday, 27 May 2017 01:10 PM
Yes relief will be sent after the purchase of the luxury vehicles for our adorable ministers. via DM Android App
SPILL GATES Saturday, 27 May 2017 02:20 PM
Thanks for publishing these comments - In fact There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio " on this subject ! Just one - is the feverish feeling one gets in looking (from the top of the dam) at the RISING enormous quantity of rainwater spilling over in such times AND when we lose power (due to power lines being out) and thereby failing to notch up further the gates. ! . and requiring a hurried manual intervention to do so ! (sometimes a slow process)
seqi Sunday, 28 May 2017 11:23 AM
pandita supreme via DM Android App
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