Landslide risk in ‘safe’ areas

Nadira Gunatilake

Areas hitherto considered safe and secure from landslides have today shown increased vulnerability to natural disaster, Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

“Now landslides occur in places that have not been identified before as areas prone to the risk,” Minister Amaraweera said in an interview with the Daily News, adding that he would give his highest priority to take preventive measures.

He said Cabinet approval has already been granted for a project to be implemented next year at a cost of US $ 50 million to minimise landslides.

”Specialists and experts are now ready to implement the project. We can minimise landslides once this project is implemented,” Amaraweera said.

The Minister also said Cabinet approval has been granted for a project to upgrade the Met Department to obtain accurate weather reports.

”People can prepare for natural disasters if we can give them accurate weather forecasts,” he said adding though that at present they did not have such technology. It will be given to the Met Department under this project. The Minister said they have already identified and listed landslide prone areas.

”But landslides occur in areas which are not in the list. Now, sometimes we get the whole year’s rain in one or two days and this excessive rain is one of the main reasons for frequent landslides,” he said.

”I have no idea to keep on going on the beaten track of feeding people after natural disasters. I will give priority to preventive measures,” he said.

The Minister also noted that unlike before, the country has a 24 hour disaster monitoring system and the people have no reason to fear.

Now there is a proper system in place to keep the people vigilant on a possible tsunami and other disasters,” Amaraweera said.

”Earlier, if our Met Department says there will be rain, we got dry weather and if it says we will have dry weather we got rain. This situation has now changed to a certain extent. We need to upgrade it to international standards and it will be done next year,” he said.

The minister said they will also find out the reason for floods and remove all hazards which block drains, canals, rivers etc.

”Filling of marshland has increased. This will be stopped,” he said.