கண்டி புகையிரத நிலையம் புகுந்த வெள்ளம்: காரணம் என்ன?

 

கண்டி புகையிரத நிலையம் புகுந்த வெள்ளம்: காரணம் என்ன?

• wastewater project funded by JICA (Japan International Cooperation),surrounding area of Kandy Lake has also been affected by this project.
• KMTTD (Kandy Multimodal Transport Terminal Development) Project
• the issue of polythene flowing downstream
• illegal constructions that have contributed to the flooding

Governor Central Province Lalith Gamage said.

Kandy station floods: Governor gives reasons, railway officials want solution

sundaytimes.lk/ By Dilushi Wijesinghe  

The flooding of the Kandy railway station on Wednesday was caused by a combination of reasons, including issues related to a major waste water project in the city, Governor Central Province Lalith Gamage said.

Elaborating, he said the wastewater project funded by JICA (Japan International Cooperation) was implemented around 20 years ago at a cost of Rs 22 billion.    However, Mr. Gamage said that the project was unsuccessful, as only 3000 of the intended 9000 houses have been connected.

He highlighted that the surrounding area of Kandy Lake has also been affected by this project.

 “We didn’t have a method of draining the water, so we had to wait for it to subside on its own and clean up all the collected mud afterwards.”

The next issue is the KMTTD (Kandy Multimodal Transport Terminal Development) Project, said Mr. Gamage, referring to the Goods Shed bus terminal. “It began in 2020 and was to be completed last year, but the project came to a standstill due to the economic crisis,” he said. The project is expected to be completed in 2027.

Mr. Gamage also highlighted the issue of polythene flowing downstream, clogging the Meda Ela canal, and illegal constructions that have contributed to the flooding of the city.

Kandy’s Municipal Commissioner, Indika Abeysinghe, said steps were being taken to clear the blocked canal and drains. She urged the public to segregate their waste, as polythene was the main cause of clogging.

The flooding saw the entrance of the railway station covered in about three feet of water. Commuters say they had pleaded with officials to make a temporary bridge as a makeshift solution to the problem after the station got flooded on three previous occasions within the past two years.

“When we questioned the relevant authorities, they kept giving various excuses. In the end, the adverse effects of their actions are faced by us,” an official of the railway station said.

He said the staff were quick to transfer electronic equipment, ticket stocks, and documents to a safe area while assisting commuters. “We didn’t have a method of draining the water, so we had to wait for it to subside on its own and clean up all the collected mud afterwards.”

Passengers, including foreigners, were seen wading through the rainwater⍐.