Officials in charge of reservoirs say that due to the severe dry weather conditions affecting the island, the water level in Randenigala, Maussakale and Castleree reservoirs has dropped very rapidly. (Sri Lanka Latest News)
As the water level of the Maussakale Reservoir has receded, the old town of Maussakale has emerged and the old temples, temples and churches located there have re-emerged. A large number of people come to worship them.
The water over flow spill level of Maussakale reservoir is 120 feet. So far it has come down to 39.09 feet. The total water capacity of Maussakale is 95400 acre feet and the water for Canyon, Lakshapana, New Lakshapana and Polpitiya hydropower plants is mainly supplied from Maussakale Reservoir.
Castleree Reservoir supplies water to Wimalasurendra Reservoir and Polipitiya Reservoir. The overflow level of Castle Ree Reservoir is 155 feet and has now dropped to 42 feet.
The total water capacity of Randenigala Reservoir is 80 million cubic meters (800 million cubic meters) and now its total water capacity has decreased to 30 million cubic meters, a senior official said. Randenigala Reservoir normally produces 120 megawatts of electricity, but due to the lack of water, it is limited to 1 gigawatt hour.
Randenigala Reservoir is mainly supplied with water from Victoria Reservoir. The water used for power generation from Randenigala Reservoir is released into Rantambe Reservoir and the water coming out of Rantambe Reservoir reaches Minipe Dam, from there it divides into left canal and right canal and left canal travels to Mahiyangana and feeds the rice paddies. The water traveling from the South Canal feeds the paddy fields through Ulhitiya and Maduru Oya.