The Cabinet of Ministers has approved to implement the proposed project to reconstruct the Samanalawewa Reservoir Dam.
Constructions of 120 MW Samanalawewa Power Project commenced in 1986 and the reservoir filled for the first time in 1992. During the same year, it was revealed that there was a water leak in the reservoir.
A number of studies have been conducted in this regard, but so far the leaking route has not been identified. Due to this water leak, the volume of the reservoir is limited to 288 million cubic meters.
Therefore, the power generation capacity of the Samanalawewa power plant, which is expected to be 405GWh, has been reduced by 70GWh. A layer of highly decomposed limestone has been found in the south bank area of the reservoir. It has been found that this water leak is likely to increase further and cause a disastrous situation. Taking these factors into consideration and after conducting a study on the previous treatments, the CEB has prepared a project to completely remove the water from the reservoir and then seal the leaking areas with suitable material.
by Daily News Sri Lanka
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