Search operations continue

Five still missing in landslides

By Anura Maitipe

Search operations are continuing to trace five people who were missing following landslides in Walapana and Hanguranketha. Of the five, two bodies were recovered yesterday from Allamulla and Belihuloya, the Nuwara Eliya Additional Divisional Secretary, D.P.G Kumarasiri told the Sunday Observer.

Following the identification of the two bodies, the death toll has increased to 18 in the Nuwara Eliya district. Around 2,306 families have been displaced in Hanguranketha and Walapana, he said.

The displaced families have been provided with temporary shelter in 78 camps and most of these camps have been set up in schools in the area. The District Secretariat has taken the initiative to build alternative camps to reopen schools, he said. According to a geological survey report, 80 percent of the land in Walapana and Hanguranketha occupied by displaced families are not safe for resettlement.

These areas are highly vulnerable to further landslides and soil erosion. This has resulted in mass destruction of forest surrounding the Mahaweli reservoirs for agricultural purposes. The report further states that unless the authorities take speedy measures to protect forests the Mahaweli reservoirs Rantambe, Randenigala and Ulhitiya will be filled with mud and turned into grassy land within the next few years.

The Additional Secretary said, "The main problem is that state lands are not available in the area to relocate the displaced families. The lands will have to be obtained from the Land Reform Commission.

We have already requested the relevant Ministries to allocate lands from safe areas to resettle the displaced families." The Chief Engineer, Road Development Authority in the Central Province R. M. M. Senavirathna said the main road between Nuwara Eliya and Walapana is in danger and restrictions have been enforced on heavy vehicles plying on this road following a stretch of over one Km stretch of road sliding at Diyanilla.

Kandakatiya in the Badulla district has been badly affected following landslides and over 200 acres of paddy land have been destroyed at Bathmadilla and another 1,500 acres of paddy cultivation are in danger due to the damage of the Bathmadilla Irrigation Network, Additional District Secretary M. A. N. Sliva said.