More water tanks for Kalutara District

by Husna Inayathullah

The number of water tanks at Wadduwa, Waskaduwa, Kalutara, Beruwala, Alutgama and Darga Town will be increased from 140 to 240 to provide 573,000 residents with clean drinking water, Chairman, National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Alahudeen Ansar said.

He said this was part of several contingency measures taken by the Board to solve the shortage of drinking water in the Kalutara district. The supply of water to several areas in the Kalutara district has been disrupted due to the absence of rain and increased salination.

A decision was reached at a meeting chaired by Kalutara District Secretary U.D.C. Jayalal with the participation of National Water Supply and Drainage Board officials and Divisional Secretaries to provide water in bowsers from the Morontuduwa water supply centre.

Steps are also being taken to set up a temporary dam to prevent sea water entering the Remunagoda area. Water will be distributed after purification from the Kethhena Water Treatment Plant.

A permanent barrier will be built to prevent sea water entering the area as a long term solution. "We have launched the 'Aluthgama, Mathugama and Agalawatta integrated Water Supply project' which is a permanent solution to the water salinisation issue. The project is being done in collaboration with the EXIM Bank of India. The contractor is Ion Exchange India (Pvt) Ltd.