Another flood threat to rice production in North Central Province

By Dayaratne Embogama

Hot on the heels of heavy rains and floods destroying a large swathe of paddy fields in North Central Province last month several tanks and reservoirs in the Anuradhapura District had reached spill over level by yesterday morning due to the heavy rain experienced in the catchment areas.   

Director of Irrigation, Anuradhapura Zone, Jayantha De Silva said nine out of 14 major tanks and reservoirs were spilling over and that spill gates were opened to release excess water.   

He said five spill gates in Nachchaduwa tank, Rajangana reservoir, Mahakanadarawa tank, Mahawilachchiya tank, Abhayawewa Kuruvila Thisawewa  and Nuwarawewa  and Kalawewa have been opened and people living downstream have been alerted.   

Irrigation Engineers said more than 3000 medium and small-scale tanks in the North Central Province were overflowing.