Karaganlevaya restoration project in progress

by P.W. Kodituwakku,

Hambantota District Group Corr.

The Sri Lanka Red Cross Hambantota Branch has launched a programme to clean up the Karaganlevaya in Hambantota of the tsunami debris and make it an environment friendly lake before the onset of the rains. The programme launched on September 26 with the sponsorship of the American Red Cross and the participation of the people in the area.

This project has provided an opportunity for low income families to substitute their income by contributing labour towards this project. Each person contributing labour is paid an allowance of Rs. 400 daily for six hours of work.

The Karaganlevaya situated by the side of the Ambalantota-Hambantota Highway, about a mile off Hambantota has a famous bird sanctuary situated adjacent to it.

About 500 people are already working on the cleaning up project.

At present the lake is heavily polluted with tree trunks, branches, leaves, logs, empty plastic cans and tins and other debris flown in by the tsunami tidal waves. The Epidemiological Unit of the Health Ministry has warned about serious health hazards to the people unless the debris is cleared from the lake and destroyed. The cleared debris is presently transported in tractors and tippers to an area along Gannoruwa road and destroyed.

Those participating in the clearing operation are provided with gloves, gum boots, and mammoties, shovels, wheelbarrows and other necessary equipment by the Red Cross. A Red Cross spokesman said it would take about two months to complete the clearing operation.