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| Sunday, 6 June 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Disaster alert ! by Lakmal Welabada The onset of the southwest monsoon has opened the floodgates to a "Would we have to suffer through a similar disaster," they wonder, as the rains continue to lash, the water levels in the rivers rise to dangerous levels and once stable hills begin to look fragile and dangerously unstable. They also wonder just how prepared the authorities are to prevent another calamity of last year's magnitude. "We are monitoring the weather situation," say officials, pointing out that several authorities including the Meteorology Department, Social Services Department, the National Disaster Management Centre of the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Social Welfare, the three Forces and the Police, District Secretaries and Divisional Secretaries along with several NGOs and international organisations have been placed on alert to tackle any floods and landslide related emergency. The southwest monsoon generally begins in end May and continues until mid June. Floods and earthslips due to the heavy rainfalls were first recorded in 1947. The second incident was in 1957. However the magnitude of the rising waters increased in 1992, but the damage caused was comparatively low. However, 2003 gets identified as 'truly catastrophic' because of the extent of human loss, destruction of property and the consequential socio-economic set back. According to N.D. Hettiarachchi, Director National Disaster Management Centre, around 137,221 families were rendered destitute in the five flood affected districts last year. The floods and landslides also claimed 252 lives. The Centre had given Rs. 100,000 each to rebuild dwelling that were destroyed and Rs,40,000 each to repair partially damaged houses. The funds were from the $1500 million given by the World Bank as a loan for reconstruction work in the devastated areas. Around 35,000 houses were destroyed and 26,000 were partially damaged. The UNDP, UNICEF and World Food Programme (WFP) also came forward with assistance along with many other local and foreign organisations. "After last year's disaster, we identified several vulnerable areas that are susceptible to soil erosion and earthslips. Under a new scheme titled 'Live with landslides' we categorised them into three areas - high, moderate and low risk areas," says Mr. Hettiarachchi, explaining that they have relocated 3381 families who were living in the high risk areas (from all the five districts) on an immediate basis. Each family had been given 20 perches of land at a safe location along with Rs. 100,000 to build their new houses. According to Mr. Hettiarachchi, the National Disaster Management Centre has had several meetings with District Secretaries, Divisional Secretaries, Police, Forces and many other local bodies in the Ratnapura, Kalutara and Matara districts during the last few months, to educate them on risk management and to tackle rain related emergencies. "The Social Services Department has been on the alert since early May," says S. Millavithanachchi, claiming that they have made all the necessary contingency arrangements and that instructions have been given to government officers in the District and Divisional Secretariats, as to what needs to be done on a priority basis. "If there's a crisis, the very first step will be, to send the boats of the Sri Lanka Navy to affected places, and relocate the people as soon as possible. "Arrangements have been made to provide hot meals for the first three days. "Simultaneously, temporary boarding like tents will also be provided for the relocated people," Mr. Millavithanachchi explains, adding that drinking water will also be distributed with big plastic tanks. Generators and water-pumping-motors which will help to clean contaminated water in the wells of the area will also be provided on request. Commodore, Jayantha Perera, Director, Naval Operations of the Sri Lanka Navy says that they have ear-marked the areas susceptible to floods. "At least two boats will be sent to one place. We have a special crew and boats to face an emergency situation like that," he points out. Group Captain Ajantha Silva, Media Spokesman of the Sri Lanka Air Force confirms they have the 'air strength' to face a 'flood crisis' in the country. The authorities gauging the daily rainfall, say last year's onslaught was an unpredictable intrusion. However, this southwest monsoon, it seem all system go with all relevant authorities alert and on the ready to move in and prevent a disastrous recurrence. |
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| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
nightmare that destroyed many lives and forever changed the landscape in
many part of the country last year. Floods, landslides... lives and
property washed away or buried in mounds of mud and rubble.... Many who
were lucky to survive the disaster and many who lost their loved ones
wonder whether the current rains portend similar disastrous consequences.
