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Water-cuts if rains do not come soon
View(s):Water cuts will be definitely imposed if rains do not come this month, National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) Chairman Karunasena Hettiarattchchi warned yesterday. “Sporadic rain over the past few weeks has been insufficient to replenish water supplies even though the water levels in the Kelani Ganga, the Maha Oya and the Kalu Ganga have risen marginally,” he said.
The warning came as drought conditions affecting most areas in the country continued.Meteorological Department Forecasting Division Director S. R. Jayasekara said that even though rain was expected in several parts of the country it was unlikely to be sufficient for agricultural purposes or to fill the reservoirs.
“The evaporation during these days is also high and a little rain will not be enough to maintain a balance,” he said.
Mr. Jayasekara said there was a depression in the weather system and this produced some rain in the Mannar, Vavuniya and Polonnaruwa areas but in the upcountry, water levels have remained low.The lack of rain in the country comes amidst warnings from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) that there is an “enhanced possibility of the development of a weak El Nino in the middle of this year. An El Nino weather pattern has a possibility of causing droughts and floods in different parts of the world.”
In India, warnings have already been issued over the possible effects on El Nino on agriculture production even though Mr. Jayasekera said no such threat is perceived for Sri Lanka at present.