(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) –A decision has been taken to complete the work on large and small-scale water projects that are in the final stages of construction and to declare them open to the public soon.
President’s Media Division said a decision was also taken to resolve existing issues regarding such projects as soon as possible.
These decisions were taken at the progress review meeting of the Ministry of Water Supply and Drainage chaired by the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the President’s House in Colombo Wednesday (15).
The President inquired about the progress of on=going water projects implemented under local and foreign funds.
Currently 2,337 large, medium and small scale water projects are being implemented with local and foreign funds. Officials pointed out that many of these have made successful progress.
The officials informed that 467,808 new water connections have been provided from 2019 to date and by 2025 the targeted total number of households will be 5,946,352.
In order to provide clean drinking water to the people, the Department of National Community Water Supply has implemented 704 new Community Water Supply Projects, including 84 projects proposed in the President’s ‘Discussion with the Village’ program.
The urgent need to amend the National Water Supply and Drainage Boards and Water Resources Boards Act and the adoption of the National Public Water Supply Department Act were also discussed.
Decisions were also taken to minimize the damage to the environment from large scale tube wells operated for commercial purposes, to conduct a complete census of tube wells, bore wells and agricultural wells, and to prepare plans to conserve groundwater in the event of large scale land allotment, President’s Media Division said.
By April 2022, all consumers, including households, commercial establishments, government agencies and schools, owed the National Water Supply and Drainage Board nearly 7,500 million rupees, officials said.
Minister of Health and Water Supply and Drainage Keheliya Rambukwella, Chief of Staff to the President Anura Dissanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Water Supply and Drainage Monty Ranatunga and heads of line agencies were also present at the discussion.
