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Uma Oya crisis: Probe on whether sub-standard machinery was used
View(s):An investigation is being held to ascertain whether sub-standard equipment was used in the Uma Oya multipurpose project and whether this led to water leaks in the underground tunnel, a cabinet minister said yesterday.
The disclosure was made by Minister Mahinda Amaraweera who is also the state Minister of Mahaveli Development and Environment and headed a Cabinet sub committee probing the controversial Uma Oya project. He told the Sunday Times that the investigators would also check whether the machinery cited in the project proposal had not been used.
The move came after initial investigations revealed that equipment to detect water sources had not been made use as the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) moved ahead. The probe will also cover allegations of mismanagement by the project’s local engineers.
Mahaveli Ministry Secretary Anura Dissanayake said that the project company was compelled to import equipment from Germany to detect water sources in the tunnel area.He said the next four kilometres of the tunnel project would be sensitive because there were several water sources, an irrigation tank and about 100 wells.He said a fresh Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report would also be called for.
Two Norwegian experts are due here soon to advise on new equipment to detect water sources and carry out grouting . The secretary said: “It is hoped that the leaks will be sealed in five to six weeks after the work is resumed next month with the new machinery.”