Ground water resources of only three districts not polluted

Priyanka KURUGALA

The Irrigation and Water Management Ministry has spent Rs 160 million to construct 100 tube wells. An agreement in this regard was signed by Dams Safety Project Director Sudharama Elakanda and National Water Resources Board Chairman Bandula Munasinghe. Here they exchange the agreement.

Ground water resources in all districts other than three in the Central Province, are polluted, a National Water Resources Board report said.

A kind of bacteria, fertilizer used for agriculture, pesticides and industrial waste pollute ground water, the report said.

The National Water Resources Board will check the condition of water in all districts with immediate effect to solve this.

This will be done on the request of Irrigation and Water Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva.

Around 3,000 areas have been selected to take samples for the experiment. The minister has also directed officials to commence a programme to provide drinking water to people in rural areas. The minister also targets to stop ground water from being polluted.

The National Water Resources Board has taken steps to measure the volume and composition of ground water. After research, the Board will be able to take a decision regarding polluted ground water.

A number of areas have been selected to conduct experiments on ground water polluted due to agriculture work. Around 408 areas in Jaffna, Nallur, Chavakachcheri and Pachchilapallei have been selected.

Meanwhile, 68 areas have been selected for experiment in the Puttalam district. Experiments will be carried out in around 1,200 areas in the Matale district. The areas include Dambulla, Galewela, Laggala, Pallegama, Naula and Pallepola.