Facelift for abandoned lakes

by Ananda KANNANGARA

All abandoned and neglected lakes in the country will be rehabilitated under a special program initiated by the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources Management on a directive of Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva.

The program will start soon and will incorporate a survey on large water reservoirs which had been abandoned and polluted throughout the country.

"We will develop and upgrade them with the help of local authorities and make them suitable for the use of people in these areas," Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told the Sunday Observer.

Referring to a recent inspection tour he had carried out in Nuwara- Eliya, the Minister said the two famous lakes in the district, the Baraklane and Katumana lakes which were constructed during the Colonial period, have been neglected by the local authorities. They are full of garbage and overgrown shrubs and are in a poor state.

The Minister ordered his officials to make arrangements to acquire these two lakes under the ministry by a Gazette notification.

He said there are more neglected lakes, canals and water reservoirs in many parts of the country and steps will be taken to acquire them in the near future.The Minister said such neglected lakes and water reservoirs will lead to unexpected floods, also causing the destruction of houses and agricultural land.

"The recent flood situation in the Western Province was also due to the negligence of waterways and canals," he said.

Minister de Silva said that after these two lakes in the Nuwara Eliya district are cleaned, steps will be taken to evacuate illegal dwellers on either side of the lakes. This will be carried out without causing them any harm.

"I have planned to rehabilitate all neglected and polluted water resources in the country and also to convert them into tourist attractions", he said.