Project for conservation of water resources to be launched: Amaraweera

By Sandun A Jayasekera

The government is to launch a national water resources conservation project under the theme ‘Surakimu Ganga’ with the objective of conservation of all aquatic resources from contamination with the main focus being on 103 rivers in the country, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.   

A brain child of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a cabinet paper seeking approval to introduce legal provisions, guidelines and other logistic support to implement the project would be presented to the cabinet on Monday (19) Minister Amaraweera added.   

Under the proposed project, dumping, diverting or connecting waste water lines, solid waste, chemicals, factory or domestic waste or surgical waste to rivers, wetlands, streams, lakes, springs, seeps, reservoirs, ponds, or any groundwater bodies would be banned, Minister Amaraweera said.   

The aim is simply to prevent private or public sector buildings from dumping or diverting their waste on any other property, roadside or on any water resource

Addressing the media at his office, Minister Amaraweera said legislation would be introduced to outright reject plans submitted for private or public sector buildings, houses, flats, condominiums, housing schemes or high-rise buildings if the building plan failed to facilitate a solid waste and waste water management system.   
“The aim is simply to prevent private or public sector buildings from dumping or diverting their waste on any other property, roadside or on any water resource,” Minister Amaraweera stressed.   

He said it has become a common practice by many to divert harmful contaminants into rivers, streams, tanks, canals and other waterways ignoring the fact that thousands of people use those water resources for their daily requirements. The waste thus dumped into water bodies eventually ends up in the sea contaminating the beaches and the ocean. The prime example is the seacoast from Colombo to Hambantota and all lakes, canals and rivers in the Western province including the Beira Lake.   

Minister Amaraweera said stiff legal action had been proposed in the cabinet paper with heavy fines and a prison term or both on conviction of violation of these laws and regulations laid down to protect water resources after the new legal measures were enacted and added those steps should have been take much earlier as Sri Lanka’s water resources were being polluted on a daily basis with no solution to the crime   

Minister Amaraweera also announced five hotlines to lodge complaints on violation of the Environment Law from any where in the country. They are: 070755566, 1921, 1981 and 1991. Whatsapp, video, photos or images could be forwarded using the mobile phone line. .   

Pics by Pradeep Dilrukshana.