Official’s dilly-dallying denies drinking water to 15,000 families

Representatives of thousands of families in Gokarella, located within the Ibbagamuwa Divisional Secretariat Division of the Kurunegala District, have made requests from the authorities to provide villagers with pipe borne water 

More than 15,000 families in Gokarella, located within the Ibbagamuwa Divisional Secretariat Division of the Kurunegala District, are struggling due to the lack of access to drinking water. The people of villages in the likes of Ihala Walpola, Medagedara, Rathwita, Gopallawa, Daramitipola, and Uthurupahuwa are burdened by this issue.

The people in these areas have so far met their drinking water needs from groundwater. That is water taken from wells. They have been meeting their water needs from wells dug in their gardens for many years. However, due to the contamination of their water sources, the people in this area are now unable to meet their drinking water needs. This is because the water sources they have relied on for so far are brackish. As a result, many people in these areas are also suffering from kidney diseases.

A list that gives details of how  state land was divided among people

Furthermore, Kurunegala is a district in the dry zone. As a result, this area receives rainfall from the southwest monsoon, while the rest of the year remains dry. Due to this, the existing water sources often dry up. In these conditions, the need for water remains a basic necessity for the people in these areas. Currently, during the rainy season, the wells are somewhat filled, allowing the communities to use water sparingly. However, they face significant challenges in meeting their water needs during the dry season and are forced to travel to areas where water is available.

As a solution to this issue, Social Activist R. M. Jayathilaka Banda, who takes the lead in organising community work in the village of Ihala Walpola, has made a request to the National Water Supply and Drainage Board to provide pipe borne water facilities to the villages. This would help meet the drinking water and other water needs of the affected communities. This request would also allow water to be distributed over shorter distances, unlike the current arrangement, where water is transported to a tank in the Gokarella area of Uthurupahuwa, which demands a return journey of 8–9 kilometres to fetch water. By constructing a water tank within 3–4 kilometres, the cost of transporting water over long distances could be reduced. This would also make it easier to distribute water to many villages, including Ihala Walpola, Medagedara, and Rathwita. Although water is currently distributed from the Uthurupahuwa area, this new system could minimise costs and enable more families to have access to water.

A house that was abandoned due to lack of access to water

Places have been officially marked so that pipelines can be established

The water collected to the tank in Uthurupahuwa area for distribution currently has to be transported to the villages of Hiddana, Polgolla, and Daramitipola; covering a distance of about 10 kilometres from the starting point. However, by constructing a water tank in Ihala Walpola area, the distance for transporting water to these villages could be reduced to approximately 500 metres. There is also the possibility to increase the water capacity and provide a higher water supply to the region.

To address this need, Jayathilaka has submitted a written proposal to the Kurunegala Water Supply and Drainage Board, mentioning the need to construct a water tank in Ihala Walpola area. The local people have also given their consent to use private lands for necessary infrastructure development such as building roads to the site and laying water pipes. The proposed water tank would be constructed on government-owned land under Ibbagamuwa Divisional Secretary. Once the land is allocated to the Water Supply and Drainage Board, the government would also benefit from the lease revenue generated from it.

The site chosen for the construction of the water tank is a fertile area in the village of Ihala Walpola. Although it is a hilly region, it encompasses 23 acres of government-owned land. Previously, permits and Jayabhumi deeds were issued, granting 2 acres of this land each to six families. However, due to the inability to meet their water requirements, these families eventually abandoned the land and relocated to the village below, as they had no other option.

The specific area identified for the construction of the water tank is flat. If the water needs of the area are met following the construction of the tank, the surrounding area has potential to become a tourist attraction. The trees and vines native to the area are also of considerable value.

Promoting economic development

While the primary goal of this water project is to address the drinking needs of 15,000 families, it also includes strategies aimed at promoting economic development benefiting those in these villages as well as those engaged in the business sector.

The water project is planned to source its supply from Kuda Oya, which flows through the area. Kuda Oya serves as the primary water catchment area for the drinking water projects and also supplies water to the tank in the Uthuru Pahuwa area.

Officials from the Kurunegala office of the Water Supply and Drainage Board have assured the local community that the necessary financial resources for this project are available. Additionally, the equipment required for constructing the water tank has already been transported to the Kuda Oya water treatment plant site.

The Kurunegala Water Supply and Drainage Board has been working on plans to initiate this project for two years, beginning in 2022. The former Ibbagamuwa Divisional Secretary also took the initiative to allocate land for the project. However, villagers have expressed concern over delays in the construction of the water tank. They attribute these delays to the negligence of the Land Officer at the Ibbagamuwa Divisional Secretariat.

During the initial stages of planning for the construction of the water tank and the laying of water pipes, it was necessary to route them through private lands. The landowners willingly provided the required portions of their land for building the necessary roads for the project, without hesitation. They also submitted the required documentation, including wills and affidavits, to facilitate the process. The villagers said that the former Divisional Secretary of Ibbagamuwa played a significant role in supporting the project by allocating government land for the construction of the water tank. Despite the support from the former Divisional Secretary, the villagers and the Water Supply and Drainage Board for the immediate construction of the water tank, the project has been stalled for two years. The villagers alleged that the delays were due to the actions of the Land Officer at the Ibbagamuwa Divisional Secretariat. As pointed out by the relevant land officer and as requested, all necessary documents and affidavits for the release of land for the water project have been provided. However, Jayathilaka pointed out that the officer repeatedly highlighted shortcomings in an attempt to delay the project.

“The water pipes for this project need to pass through two private lands. The owners of both properties provided their consent through affidavits. However, the Land Officer has now raised an issue, stating that since one of the landowners has passed away, consent must be obtained from her children. The deceased landowner’s only daughter, who currently occupies the property, has agreed to provide the necessary space for the project and has signed the required documents. The daughter is elderly and unable to travel unaccompanied. The Land Officer insisted that her signature alone was insufficient. She made the effort to visit the Ibbagamuwa Divisional Secretariat last March, despite her illness for the project to proceed without further delay. However, the project still remains stalled,” added Jayathilaka.

“When I asked the Land Officer why this work was being delayed, he explained that he was trying to confirm whether the deceased landowner had any other children. He noted that if there were other children, legal complications could arise regarding the use of a portion of the land. However, the deceased landowner had no other children. The Land Officer requested a new affidavit from her only daughter, who is currently unwell; affirming that she does not object to the installation of the water pipe on the property. He also suggested that the daughter either visit the Ibbagamuwa Divisional Secretariat in person or send the affidavit through Divisional Secretary in Doratiyawa area, where she now resides. We have known the deceased landowner since childhood and she had only one daughter. The daughter is currently living in the Doratiyawa area with her children,” said Jayathilaka.

Another concern is why the relevant issues weren’t resolved during her visit to the Ibbagamuwa Divisional Secretariat last March. It is vital that higher authorities investigate whether addressing the drinking water needs of 15,000 families by stalling this project for two years. If that were to be proven, the officer’s actions could be seen as a violation of the human rights of these families with regard to the need for drinking water. It seems that the officer might be trying to delay the project by imposing unnecessary conditions and requirements.

Commenting on the issue, R. P. K. Jayasinghe, Land Officer of the Ibbagamuwa Divisional Secretariat, said: “The land allocated for the construction of the water tank belongs to the government. However, accessing this land and installing the water pipe require crossing two private properties. While one landowner has already granted permission, the other has stated that she is unable to visit the land due to the lack of rights to have access to the area. Accordingly, Ibbagamuwa Divisional Secretary should send a letter to the landowner through the Divisional Secretary of her area of residence to secure access to the land. This process has been delayed for two years due to the late submission of the letter from the landowner. We inquired whether the deceased landowner had any other children. However, the relevant party hasn’t yet provided details on this matter. The delay in receiving this letter has also contributed to the postponement of the project.”

When inquiries were made regarding the issue from Ibbagamuwa Divisional Secretary W.R.A.S.P. Herath he had this to say: “Out of the individuals who were issued with grant papers to have access to the land which was earmarked to build the water tank, only one individual was granted permission to build a road to have access to the area and install the water pipe. The Mallawapitiya Divisional Secretariat, where the other landowner currently resides, has been instructed to obtain a statement from that individual. Further actions are being taken based on that letter. It is unknown whether two years have passed since the project began. According to the details in the file, the project has been active since November 2023. As I have only recently assumed duties, I am not fully aware of the earlier developments regarding this matter. I will investigate the matter further.”