Water supply project commissioned at Galagedara

Dharmasiri Wijeratne - Hanwella group corr.

Urban Development and Water Supply Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said that the government has focused attention on fulfilling the safe drinking water needs of the masses.

He was addressing a meeting held after inaugurating a Community Water Supply Project at Pasel Mawatha, Galagedara, Padukka recently.

He said that as a result of urbanisation there is a great demand from the people for the supply of pipe borne water at their door steps.

Thus action has been taken to accelerate urban and rural water supply projects, on budgetary provisions set apart under the Mahinda Chintana program.

He said that in villages community participation is encouraged in these projects.

The Minister said that about 62% of our people fall sick due to the consumption of polluted water. The Health Department annually spends millions of rupees to treat them. But if that money can be saved we can provide safe drinking water to about 27 lakhs of families, he said.

Deputy Speaker Geethanjana Gunawardena said that it was possible to complete the project early as a result of community participation. He said it was the responsibility of beneficiaries numbering about 100 to ensure the proper maintenance of the project.

He also said that several community water supply projects are underway in Avissawella electorate. About 18 of them will be completed by next month, he said.

Western Provincial Council Member Mahesh Almeida said that the community water supply system which was limited to distant areas such as Moneragala was first implemented in the Avissawella electorate by former Minister Indika Gunawardena as the then Minister of Urban Development and Water Supply. But subsequently when the UNP came into power the system was stopped.

However when the PA recaptured power, fortunately for the voters of Avissawella, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga appointed Dinesh Gunawardena as the Minister of Urban Development and Water Supply. We should therefore thank him for restarting the community water supply projects in the Avissawella electorate, he said.

Seethawaka PS Members Sirisena Rajapakse (PA) and Gamini Welikala (MEP) also spoke.