Irrigation Department urges water conservation as reservoir levels remain below 45%
COLOMBO – The Irrigation Department has urged the public to use water sparingly as water levels in the country’s major reservoirs remain at only 44–45% of capacity, raising concerns ahead of the upcoming Maha cultivation season.
L.S. Suriya Bandara, Director of Hydrology and Disaster Management at the Irrigation Department, said reservoir water releases for the Maha cultivation season, which begins in October, have already been planned.
Speaking to the media, Bandara said the southwest monsoon had brought below-average rainfall to several key catchment areas this year, with some locations recording as little as 10 to 15 millimetres of rain.
He noted that rainfall is expected to increase during October and November due to the influence of the El Niño climate pattern. However, he cautioned that if the anticipated rainfall fails to materialize, authorities are prepared to implement special water management measures.
“Plans have already been drawn up to manage and distribute the available water resources efficiently should the expected rainfall not occur,” Bandara said.
He appealed to the public to conserve water to help ensure adequate supplies for agriculture and other essential needs in the months ahead.
-ENCL
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