Water levels of Maduru Oya that supplies water for them are on a steep decline, from 483,200 acre feet to 34,000 acre feet.
Now, these families are finding it difficult to secure drinking water, leave along water to irrigate their 80,000 acres of paddy land.
Deputy resident manager at Mahaweli ‘B’ system Wasantha Perera said water could now be released only for three weeks for irrigation purposes.
Ulhitiya and Rathkinda reservoirs that divert waters to Maduru Oya are presently undergoing renovations.