9 December 2021 08:42 pm Views - 974
There are 1,374 waste disposal sites in the Kelani River area from Seethawaka to Peliyagoda, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.
The Minister expressed these views while participating in an inspection tour of the Kelani River today to inspect the places where the Kelani River is polluted.
The observation tour was organized in collaboration with the SL Navy, the Central Environmental Authority and a number of other agencies.
The Central Environmental Authority (CEA) has conducted an island-wide survey covering the entire river network of our country. According to the results of that survey, the Kelani River is the most polluted river in the whole country, and more than 80% of the population of Gampaha and Colombo meet their drinking water needs from this river. The Minister stressed.
"There are 103 rivers in our country. According to the island wide survey conducted by the CEA, 10,733 places are found to be polluted the entire river network. The Kelani River is the most polluted river of them all. The Minister said the Kelani River collects pollutants at 1374 places, including 797 polluting sites in the Colombo city area and 577 places in the Gampaha district. Therefore, I suggested that steps need be taken to give priority to the second largest River next year under the Surakimu Ganga programme, he said.
"We also give priority to the conservation of the Menik and the Walawe Rivers. Accordingly, out of the funds allocated for the year 2021, this year, we have allocated funds for financial projects in all 24 districts. However, we will be executing a number of projects that will involve the purification of the Kelani River by 2022. That is why this observation tour is being conducted today," said the Minister. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)