Tanks and reservoirs filled to capacity

• Engineer in Charge of Moragahakanda project P. S. Bandara said the capacity of Moragahakanda reservoir had increased upto 90 percent of its capacity

By Gamini Bandara Ilangatilleka and Indika Runa Kumara   

Continual heavy rain experienced in the Central hills has resulted in the rise to capacity in the Maussakele and Castlereigh reservoirs.   

Engineers in charge of the two reservoirs said the water level in Maussakele reservoir stood at 16ft below the spill over level and that of Castlereigh reservoir 12ft below by last morning. They said the water level in the two reservoirs was rising fast.   

They said Canyon, Wimalasurendra, Laxapana, New Laxapana. Polpitiya and Broadland hydropower complexes are fed by Maussakele and Castlereigh reservoirs. Meanwhile, Engineer in Charge of Moragahakanda project P. S. Bandara said the capacity of Moragahakanda reservoir had increased upto 90 percent of its capacity. He said the reservoir with the capacity of water level up to 185 metres stood at 183 metres by yesterday morning due to the heavy rain experienced in the catchments.   

He said he is pleased that adequate irrigation facilities for agriculture could be provided. He further said that irrigation facilities for 7000 hectares in the Elahera agricultural scheme would be provided by Moragahakanda reservoir project and that Minneriya, Kaudulla, Girithale, Kanthale and Parakrama Samudra tanks and reservoirs would be fed by Moragahakanda reservoir as required.   

He said at present 15 megawatts of power is added to the national grid by the Moragahakanda project.