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| Tuesday, 02 November 2004 |
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Pilot project to prevent water wastage, recover payments by Ramani Kangaraarachchi The National Water Supply and Drainage Board has implemented a pilot project to prevent wastage of water and recover payments on water bills successfully under the Pro-Poor Public Private Partnership. Chief Sociologist of Regional Operations Division of NWSDB D. Seneviratne said that four-hundred million gallons of water are wasted through tap lines in the Greater Colombo area daily. He said that forty per cent of the total population in Colombo fall into the low income category and they all avoid paying water bills and this affects maintaining sustainable development in the water supply sector. Under this pilot project the NWSDB has given the responsibility of billing and recovering money from the consumer to the private sector and in turn the private sector will deal directly with the NWSDB with regard to bulk payments. Seneviratne said that infrastructure facilities required to implement the pilot project is now completed and 175 water metres have been already installed out of 523 consumer families selected. The balance will be installed shortly before the billing by the private sector commences. He said that community participation in the urban area was one significant factor for the success of this project. The politicians' involvement in promoting and building confidence in this project is also very important for its success. The NWSDB has identified the following five key strategies to achieve the Millenium Development Goal in Water Supply and Sanitation in Sri Lanka. They are prioritise public investment, encourage beneficiary involvement, establish regulatory mechanism, promote private sector participation and enhance capacity at every level. The second project is under way at 27 Estate, Narahenpita. |
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