The Irrigation Ministry, the Mahaweli Authority, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, and the Water Management Secretariat, in a concerted effort on Friday, implemented a meticulous water management plan to combat the ongoing drought impact, the head of the Water Management Secretariat and Mahaweli Authority Deputy Director General of Technical Services, chief engineer Nilantha Dhanapala told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
According to sources of the South Asia Drought Monitoring System (SADMS), the Anuradhapura district has experienced a reduction of over 65 percent of surface water extent due to the drought. The surface water extent in the Victoria Reservoir has reduced by more than 60 percent, compromising its capacity for hydroelectric power generation.