• Steps have been taken to drain out water which is seeping through a cleft in the hill as a temporary solution and that a long term plan would be forwarded soon

By Chamil Rupasinghe - Kandy   

The disastrous situation in the Lower Kadugannawa area could have been averted if the NBRO’s prior recommendations in 1999 were followed by the relevant authorities, top NBRO official yesterday said.   

Director Geological Engineering of National Building and Research Organisation (NBRO) K. N. Bandara said the present disaster was due to the failure to formally implement the recommendations.  

Engr. Bandara said the NBRO had recommended that the draining of storm water in the Kadugannawa hill range should be stabilised to prevent erosion.   

“ However, it is sad that the recommendations had not received due attention and it resulted in the present predicament. 

The part of the hill where the stalls are located has been subject to a slight subsidence but it has not affected the main highway and the area below or the railway line,” he said.   

He further said, that that steps had been taken to drain out water that which is  seeping through a cleft in the hill as a temporary solution and that a long term plan would be forwarded soon.