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| Sunday, 4 December 2005 |
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Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation warns : Flood menace in Colombo by Jayantha Sri Nissanka Colombo city, Sri Jayawardhanapura parliament complex and adjoining areas are under the threat of inundation if rainfall exceeds 300 mm, according to a spokesman of the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLRDC). This is due to the filling of 400 acres of land in the area that was earmarked to retain overflowing rivers and canals during heavy rains. During the last ten years these lands were filled both officially and on the sly by politicians and businessmen through bribery, corruption and intimidation of public officials despite a ban on filling such low-lying land, it is learnt. The SLLRDC had reserved 1000 acres in Colombo and another 1000 acres in Kotte area to prevent floods in Colombo city and around Parliament since the Galle road is situated 10 meters above mean sea level but Colombo and Kotte areas are situated two meters above mean sea level. Unless the Government takes swift measures to protect the existing reserve of 1600 acres and get project developers in wetlands to fulfill stipulated conditions like the creation of flood preventive artificial lakes and other measures, Colombo city and the Parliament complex could go under water even with little rain. According to the Corporation, the reason for floods around Parliament is due to the filling of marshy lands to construct the new HSBC building at Rajagiriya, many housing and commercial buildings in the vicinity and the new President's House Project which was later abandoned. Though the President's House project was abandoned, the land had been filled without creating the artificial lake to collect flood waters. Due to these projects and other land filling in Kotte area, the Parliament complex is now threatened with inundation. On November 22 flood waters submerged the Parliament road and many roads in Colombo paralysing the smooth traffic flow due to rain. Reported rainfall on that day was 270 mm. The present main flood outlet, the Wellawatte canal is unable to out flow the entire floodwaters in Kotte and Colombo areas. Unless pumping stations are installed and another flood outlet is opened, the economic nerve centre of Sri Lanka, Colombo city will be threatened with constant floods, according to a senior official of the SLLRDC. Currently, Sri Lanka does not have a single such pumping station. However, the Corporation is considering using the Beira Lake as another alternative to flush out floodwaters. Another reason for floods is that although the Corporation is properly maintaining the main canal system, Municipalities do not properly maintain the small canal system by removing garbage most of the time. |
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