Four million water connections by 2020

by Naalir Jamaldeen

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has earned a profit of Rs. 380 million this year due to an increase in its optional income. Moves are in place to increase water connections to four million by 2020.

Over 100,000 new water connections have been given to people across the country so far, Water Supply and Drainage Deputy Minister Nirupama Rajapaksa said.

She said the Government has planned to implement many projects next year. Special measures have been taken to protect the underground water resources.

New water supply projects in Matara, Kandy, Hambantota and several districts in the North and the East were commissioned last year.

The demand for drinking water is increasing every year. Drinking water supply projects to cater to the increasing demand are to be implemented with assistance from Japan, the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. Several drinking water supply projects are under way in various parts of the country including in the North and the East, the Deputy Minister said.

Several small-scale drinking water supply projects have been implemented in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Pure drinking water is supplied to the villages which are vulnerable for kidney diseases, according to Deputy Minister Rajapaksa.

Several drinking water supply projects have been inaugurated in Kilinochchi and Oddusuddan.

The Kilinochchi drinking water supply project is being implemented with assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Deputy Minister said.