Over to you Chairmen Wattala-Mabole UC and RDA

The residents in Gunathilake Mawatha, Mabole, Wattala are in a dilemma as to why the newly constructed main drain line from Negombo Road is being diverted to the narrow drain line that runs inside Gunathilake Mawatha.

During monsoonal rain, there is an immense likelihood of drain water overflowing to the lower lying areas of Gunathilake Mawatha as the inadequate drain line that passes through in Gunathilake Mawatha is insufficient to accommodate the barrage of drain water that would flow into it from the main drain line.

In addition, the most hazardous issue the authorities have not given any thought before diverting the drain line towards Gunathilake Mawatha, is that the drain line runs along with the potable water line.

While excavation was done to divert the drain line to Gunathilake Mawatha, the potable water line was damaged that supplies pure water to Gunathilake Mawatha, and it caused a lot of potable water wastage.

The repairs to the line were undertaken in the most incompetent manner leaving behind leaks in two locations on the potable line which is above the concrete bottom of the drain line, where the main drain line run into and the rest of the line that supplies water to the residents of Gunathilake Mawatha, Mabole is now buried under the drainage line bottom built by topping up concrete to divert the drain line.

Also, unless, authorities make an alternate arrangement to transfer the garbage collection area from the entrance of Gunathilake Mawatha, though there is a notification from the UC stating dumping of garbage is prohibited.

It is definitely going to be a health menace to the residents as the garbage bags are tampered by stray dogs and cats, and the polluted fluids from these garbage bags are going to drift to the effluent drain and could make things worse and that the contaminated fluid too will seep into the potable water line.

This garbage is collected on an ad hoc schedule but during monsoonal rain when the garbage dump yards utilised by the authorities too are flooded with water, the junk will certainly remain for an uncertain period at the entrance without collection adding up more problems.

A proper study is required by the authorities, a good planning is the need of the hour before the finalisation to construct/re-divert the Main Drain Line at the Negombo Road, and skilled repairs to be undertaken to the potable water line.

If you leave the unplanned drain line as it is, there are significant possibilities of effluent water to permeate into the potable water line that would cause a big health and safety hazard to all residents of Gunathilake Mawatha, and affect the health of the residents of the area.

R. G. CHANASSERY
Mabole