News

N’Eliya water supply illegally tapped for 15 years

By Shelton Hettiarachchi

Nuwara Eliya is facing a serious water shortage as a result of the islandwide drought. But the drought is not entirely to blame. Illegal water tapping, it was confirmed yesterday, has been depriving residents of their rightful share of water for at least 15 years.

An official team from Nuwara Eliya, comprising the Mayor, Municipal member M. Faleel and others, trekked two kilometres through rough terrain and thick jungle area to find out the truth of a complaint made years ago that Nuwara Eliya’s water supply was being illegally tapped for cultivation purposes. The team discovered a water pipe line, two-inches in diameter, running through the forest. Two other pipe-lines taking water meant for the residents of Hawa-eliya were directed towards another area.

The Mayor said he would consider taking legal action against those who have been pilfering water. The demand for water has gone up in the last 20 years with population growth, he said, and one alternative was to sink tube wells. Since 2007, he has ordered the construction of seven tube wells at a cost of Rs. 135 million.The Mayor said the water from the Lovers’Leap waterfall was more than enough for the townfolks’ daily needs. The fall supplies water to factories and residential areas. The daily water collection, formerly 90,000 litres, has dropped to 10,000 litres, forcing residents to obtain water from tube wells.

Top to the page  |  E-mail  |  views[1]
SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
 
Other News Articles
Dengue: Emergency action tomorrow
Attack on meeting state terror: JVP
Rs. 200m in public funds down the drain for C’wealth Games
Cement Corporation caught tampering
Authorities silent on how he came to possess so much foreign currency
Colombo-Tuticorin ferry service abandoned
Bridging friendship between Japan and Sri Lanka
Nations urged to estimate 'natural capital' for green accounting purposes
Police suspect one gang behind 2 break-ins at Battaramulla bank
Meet demands now or face strike action, says FUTA
Animal remains rest in pieces as talismans
Rs. 11 m. due from cinema hall owners in City
Fake banknotes doing the rounds
Fonseka release: Court of Appeal to scrutinise presidential order
CEB losses rise with drop in reservoir levels
N’Eliya water supply illegally tapped for 15 years
Beehives to remain while officials comb for solutions
Crate law shoots up veggie prices, say traders
Road deaths by buses on the rise
Will it be a case of bye, bye blackbird?
A world for our children's grandchildren
Unstoppable deadly dengue marches on
High risk Negombo facing shortage of vital staff
Protests over unhealthy payment to get clean bill of health
Govt. distances itself from SB’s sexual assault charge within Colombo campus
Waiting to be fired up
Maldivian President’s brother escapes assault outside embassy
Sunken buses and trains are perfect for fish
Fowzie off to Saudi Arabia for Crown Prince’s funeral

 

 
Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
© Copyright 1996 - 2012 | Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka. All Rights Reserved | Site best viewed in IE ver 8.0 @ 1024 x 768 resolution