Rs 350 m flood redress needed

Nimal WIJESINGHE- Anuradhapura Additional district group correspondent

The heavy floods experienced in Anuradhapura district have receded except for Nachchaduwa and Nuwarawewa reservoirs. Spill gates of Rajangana and Kalawewa reservoirs have been closed according to zonal Irrigation Director Wasantha Bandara Palugaswewa.

"The situation is back to normal in Anuradhapura district after weeks long torrential rains and floods. We had 122 flood relief camps to look after the victims and all those people have already left the camps to lead their normal lives. We are making arrangements to provide rations of dry food to about 17,000 who have left the camps", Anuradhapura District Secretary H. M. K. Herath told the Daily News.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa ordered the authorities to provide the flood victims with appropriate quantities of dry foods, at a meeting held in A'pura to access the situation of the crisis, he said.

Estimates are now being made to pay compensation to those whose houses were destroyed due to floods.

Field officers of the Anuradhapura National Housing Development Authority with the assistance of Grama Niladaris are engaged in a survey at present to assess the exact damage caused to the houses and to collect first hand information with regard to this.

It has been roughly estimated that a sum of Rs 350 million would be required to pay compensation to those victimized by floods in Anuradhapura district.