CMC speeds up drainage cleaning

Rafik Jalaldeen

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has accelerated drainage cleaning and the dengue prevention program in the Colombo city and its suburbs engaging police field force personnel.

CMC Chief Administrator Omar Kamil said the CMC has started to clean Sri Dharma Mawatha-Dematagoda drainage system yesterday. This drainage cleaning will continue up to the Baseline Road. The CMC is also engaged in desilting the drainage network from the Sugathadasa Stadium to the Bloemendhal Road.

The drainage cleaning process is carried out by the CMC employees with the assistance of volunteers living in the affected areas and police field force personnel, he added.

Kamil said the Serpentine canal, Torrington canal and the canal along the Lake drive should be desilted. “These canals were overflowing and flooded during pre-monsoonal rains. The authorities maintaining these canals should look into the matter,” he added.

Meanwhile, a committee meeting was held with the Colombo Medical Officers on prevention of dengue mosquito breeding in the Colombo city.

Kamil told the Daily News that main reasons for dengue mosquito breeding are dumping of garbage blocking drains and inappropriate maintenance of open spaces in the city.