Heavy rains cause tank spillovers and flood warnings in Anuradhapura

By B.G.Chaturanga, Prasad Rukmal and 
Dayaratne Embogama   

Although much rain is not experienced in Anuradhapura  area, heavy rainfall in the catchments resulted in the spillover of tanks  and reservoirs.   

 Irrigation Engineer in Charge of Nachchaduwa tank said all six spill gates in the tank were opened last morning when it  reached spillover level, She said the spill gates were opened by two  feet to release excess water into Malwatu Oya.   

 She warned the people living on the banks of the river to be cautious of any possible flood threat.   
 Meanwhile, Rajangana and Angamuwa tanks in Anuradhapura  reached spillover level last morning and eight spill gates in  Rajangana tank and two in Angamuwa tank were opened to release spill  water.   

Director of Irrigation, Anuradhapura Zone, Jayantha De  Silva said the spill gates in Rajangana tank were opened by five feet to  release spill water at a speed of 12000cu.ft per second and spill gates  in Angamuwa reservoir by one foot to release spill water at a speed of  700cu.ft per second. 
  
The spill gates in Ulhitiiya Ratkinda Reservoir were opened  last morning when the reservoir reached spillover level due to the  heavy rain experienced in the area at present.   

 Officer In Charge of the reservoir Deeptha Jayasekara said  three spill gates were opened last morning and that other spill gates  will have to be opened on the instructions of Irrigation Engineer in  Mapakada if the rain persists and the water level increases.   

 However, he said Ratkinda causeway on Girandurukotte road was not facing a flood threat at present.  
 Meanwhile, Divulwewa tank bund in Galenbindunuwewa is  endangered by a breach and the army with the help of Agrarian  Organisations has taken steps to lay sandbags on the affected areas of  the tank bund to prevent any possible flood threat.   

A spokesman for Nachchaduwa Irrigation Engineer’s office  said a tunnel was under the tank bund had resulted in the danger of  erosion. He said the tank had reached the spill-over level and  overflowed through the tunnel way causing erosion of the bund. He said  the army has taken steps to prevent the flow of water by laying sandbags. He further said steps would be taken to bring down the water level  in view of the impending danger.