Diversion of Excess Water in Badulu Oya for Augmentation of Loggal Oya Reservoir for Generation of Hydropower (Concept Paper)

With the implementation of Uma Oya Multipurpose Diversion Project, part of Uma Oya water will be diverted to the Kirindi Oya basin to compensate for the water shortages in the south-east dry zone. As a result the water received presently at Rantambe from Uma Oya will be reduced approximately by one third. Badulu Oya which joins the Malaweli Ganga downstream of Uma Oya flows underneath the Minipe Right Bank (RB) canal. Hence major part of the water in Badulu Oya at present flows to Mahawel Ganga without being made use. Further, there is certain potential energy in the water of Badulu Oya and adjacent Loggal Oya which can be converted to electrical energy by augmenting the water source of Minipe RB canal. The objective of this article is to identify the most probable means to investigate the possibilities of harnessing both water resource and hydropower potential in the two streams.