Board official in alleged water piracy for 20 years

Suraj A Bandara and Suranjith Perera

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWS&DB) Special Investigation Unit yesterday raided a senior NWS&DB officer's residence at Moratuwa for illegally tapping water from a national water supply pipeline.

The suspect holds a senior post at the Water Board and has been continuing this illegal water tapping for nearly 20 years. According to NWS&DB Special Investigation Unit chief Sarath Munasinghe the suspect had connected a pipeline from his residence to the main water meter right opposite his residence belonging to the NWS&DB. The pipe had been covered with a concrete layer to avoid detection

NWS&DB Chairman Karunasena Hettiarachchi said instructions have been given to take strict legal action against the suspect despite his status. "Though he is an officer of the Water Board, if it is proved he is guilty of illegal water tapping he will be penalized," he said.

There has been an increase in illegal tapping recently from the National Water Board pipelines, he added.

The raid was conducted on a complaint by a journalist.