Rs. 1,100 million water supply scheme to quench Nawalapitiya’s thirst

Text and pictures by P. B. Kirindeniya
Nawalapitiya Group Correspondent

December 8 was a special day for the people of Nawalapitiya with the commissioning of the Rs. 1,100 million gigantic water supply scheme. The scheme which is a brainchild of Minister of Power Mahindandanda Aluthgamage is funded by the KFW Bank, Germany.

The ratepayers of Nawalapitiya have had to face many problems due to the lack of water even during the rainy season. Nawalapitiya, which can be described as a railway town receives rainfall for about eight months of the year.

Despite this blessing from Mother Nature, the 100 year old water supply scheme which was supplemented by the Shamrock Reservoir is unable to quench the thirst of the increasing population. Subsequently, a second water supply scheme fed by the Imboolpitiya Estate was inaugurated but with little success.

The Galaboda falls and the Hangran Oya were later tapped to provide water.

Initial work on this project began in 1998 and the foundation stone for this project was also laid in 1998. Work on this project began by the Sierra Construction Company under the guidance of the Water Board.

Hangran Oya is blocked at Hynford along the Nawalapitiya-Inguru Oya railroad at the foot of Mapakanda village. A number of refinery tanks built there purify the water which is carried a distance of four kilometres under gravity to a storage tank built by the side of the Jayatilake Park.

Deputy Project Director K. L. Edirisinghe and Residential Engineer D. K. Jayasinghe say that water at the storage tank is pumped from there to an elevated tower, 20 m in height, constructed behind the District General Hospital which has a capacity of 1,000 cubic metres and another ground tank constructed on a hillock at Shamrock with a capacity of 450 cubic metres.

Storage tanks, a pumping shed, office and living quarters are constructed by the side of the Jayatilake Stadium.

The water stored in these tanks would be pumped to the elevated tower and ground tank and would be distributed to 4,500 families, i.e. 4,500 connections round the clock.

Plans are under way to supply water to villages like Bowwagama, IDH, Samagigama and Selam Bridge, outside the town area. This programme would go a long way to minimise the arguments and cross talk which are regular features at the Urban Council meetings, apart from satisfying the long felt needs of the people.

Minister of Water Resources Athaulla, Minister of Urban Development and Sacred City Development Dinesh Gunawardana, Minister of Sports Gamini Lokuge, Minister of Water Supply Mahinda Amaraweera, Central Provincial Council Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayaka were also present.