Rising water levels threaten tank bunds

(by Yohan Perera)

The rising water levels due to continuous rains have caused threats to the stability of many large scale tank bunds in the North Central and Eastern provinces.    The bund of the Walathapitiya tank in Ampara had breached from two places and ten families were evacuated. The flood waters had inundated Ninthavur and Karativu areas as well.  

Most tanks in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Ampara districts were affected and continuously overflowing as spill gates were opened. Several small tanks in the area were also damaged. Spillway of the Nachchaduwa tank was widened by 20 feet using backhoes and the gushing waters had inundated many buildings including some Buddhist Temples. Spill gates of Kalawewa, several gates in Rajangana Wewa were opened yesterday.  Nuwarawewa, Eruwewa  and Thisa Wewa were also overflowing.

In Trincomalee arrangements are being made to make the waters gushing from the Mineriya Tank flow into the sea through the Kantale tank. Kantale Irrigation Department area Engineer Kanankage said this decision was made as it was dangerous to allow the water to flow in into the Kavudulla Tank. Therefore it was reported that 12 spill gates of the Kavudulla tank, 8 gates of Minneriya Wewa and 10 from Parakarma Samudra have been opened. Nearly 4800 cubic feet of water were reported to be gushing out from the Kantale tank per second. The capacity of the tank has exceeded the maximum level. Twelve districts were affected by the floods altogether. Rains continued to lash areas in Batticaloa and Ampara yesterday hampering relief efforts to assist more 127,598 people displaced due to floods. The Disaster Management Centre’s (DMC) Batticaloa District Coordinator M. Cassim told the Daily Mirror that the distribution of relief became more difficult as helicopters could not be taken off due to heavy rains. He said the use of boats were also difficult at times as they carried the risk of being capsized due to gushing flood waters.

Mr. Cassim said the entire Batticaloa district was almost inundated last morning while the estuary of the Kallady River had to be widened while another one had to be established to let the water flow into the sea.

He said he was left with 6000 loaves of bread as they could not be distributed due to bad weather. “The DMC will continue to provide relief despite difficulties,” he assured The displaced people have taken refuge in schools, public buildings and places of religious worship located at higher elevations.

Spill gates of all tanks in the district were opened while several small tanks were reported to be damaged.