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| Sunday, 2 May 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Threat of floods looms by ANTON NONIS Ratnapura has become a hive of activity with people of all ages of all walks of life to look after the belongings if there is a flood this time as in the past year. The catastrophic flood of the 2003 that leashed watery grave for 122 inhabitants in Ratnapura, marooned thousands of others, destroyed scores of houses, devastated several acres of paddy lands and other vegetation and caused a total disappearance of some precariously placed hills and the elevated ground, are still fresh in their minds. Ratnapura District Secretary, Mrs. Malani Premaratne is too busy these days holding discussions with the heads of government departments and non governmental organisations as to the best ways of minimising damage if the floods occur again. Heavy rainfall, has already started in Ratnapura from the beginning of this year, somewhat of a similar fashion like last year. In April too there were heavy showers and the level at Kalu Ganga had begun to increase. At the Demuwawatha Monitoring Centre shows the level had gone up by 12 feet as on April 27. The spill level for the river is 15 feet. At this rate, weathermen in the area predict that the remaining three feet might be covered up if the rain continues for a few more days. Record of the colossal loss by the last year's flood, as maintained by the Ratnapura Divisional Secretariat, indicates that the death toll had been 122. Damaged houses numbered 3994 while the partially damaged were 9810. Seventy schools were severely damaged. A total acreage of 7447 paddy lands were inundated. As many as 399 minor irrigation schemes, 36 water supply systems too were included in the lot. The total affected families numbered 34,473. At that time, Premaratne had to seek the assistance of the Sri Lanka Navy. According to UNDP volunteer officer, Purna Yahampath, the Navy divers faced difficulties as they were not familiar with the topography of the region. To overcome this problem, the UNDP officers have planned to seek the assistance of divers in the villages who are familiar with the region. At present, the UNDP is carrying out a disaster preparedness project in which delegation of duties to various government departments and the NGOs are being discussed. The UNDP, the Sri Lanka Red Cross, NGOs had done a lot during the last year's flood. Family packs containing dry rations, mats, blankets, cloth and garments were distributed among the marooned. She also said that the CWE and the Pradeshiya Sabhas have agreed to store sufficient stocks of dry rations to cater to any food shortages if there happened to be any. Some of the most vulnerable areas scientifically identified are Nivitigala, Pelmadulla, Kiriella, Elapatha and Ayagama. Past records had shown that many landslides and earth-slips had occurred in these places. The authorities have urged people living in such areas to move away to safer places. State land will be provided to them. The Met Department is keeping a close watch. There had been media reports (not Lake House papers) speculating major floods in Ratnapura 45 days from the Sinhala New Year. The report says there would be heavy rain in the region after the New Year season. However, Met. Acting Director General, G.H.P. Dharmaratne about such a possibility, said that the report was seriously misleading. "The department do not make that kind of long range predictions. The maximum period taken in for consideration is up to 48 hours," he said. Meteorologist, S.H. Kariyawasam said that during the inter-monsoonal period, there will be rain in different parts of the country. The South-West monsoon sets in towards the fourth week of May. It may bring heavy showers to the SW quarter, especially at the beginning of the monsoon. Records had shown that Ratnapura usually received good rainfall. The annual rainfall for the years from 2000-2003 had been 3628.4 m.m., 3398.1 m.m, 3202.3 m.m. and 4021.2 m.m. respectively. The rainfall this year too had been good and April received (up to the 27th) 322 m.m. of rain. Analysts are of the belief that many quarters in Ratnapura may have been compared rainfall figures while arriving at their own assumption that there might be a floods in the region this SW monsoon too. However, meteorologists say last year's was an extreme case. Changes of various kind may occur in the climate at any time and that what was predicted earlier might not hold at the end. |
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