Dam safety projects mooted

Irangika RANGE

COLOMBO: The Ministry of Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services is formulating Dam Safety Projects focusing on public safety.

Addressing a Seminar on “Dam Safety and Reservoir Conservation for Sustainable Management of Existing Water Resources” organised by the Association of Franco-Ceylonese Technologies, Minister Maithripala Sirisena said there have been frequent landslides in the hill country which no one expected. This should be addressed without further delay.

The Minister said most dams in Sri Lanka were ageing and suffering from various structural deficiencies and shortcomings in operation and monitoring. This situation threatens public safety and operational efficiency of the dams and its related structures.

Some recent studies indicated an urgent need to upgrade and modernise these dams and structures. The country should also develop dam related disaster preparedness and management plans and manage watersheds.

Enhancing of skills and capacity of institutions and strengthening of institutional arrangements for dam safety assurance are also essential, he added.

“Dam risks must be addressed before it is too late as lives and properties could be facing a serious threat,” the Minister said.