Kelani water treatment plant to open soon

Priyanka KURUGALA

The Kelani Right Bank Water Treatment Plant along with the Kelani Ganga Water Treatment Plant will be inaugurated at the end of March, a Water Supply and Drainage Ministry spokesman said. The Water Supply and Drainage Ministry has planned the project with the intention of providing drinking water to towns in the northern part of the Western Province. These towns are Biyagama, Kiribathgoda, Kadawatha, Ragama, Wattala, Kandana, Ja-ela, Seeduwa and Ganemulla, he said.

The project which costs Rs 10,150 million will benefit around 1,000,000 people. The project will be implemented by the Water Supply and Drainage Board, he said.

"This is the largest treatment plant of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board which will be benefit the population in the northern part of the Western Province",he said.

The project will consist of a new water intake structure with a capacity of 360,000 m3/day (80 mgd) together with screens, pumps, inlet gates, 1,200 mm diameter raw water transmission main cranes, electrical equipment and instrumentation.

It will also have a treatment plant with an initial capacity of 180,000 m3/day (40 mgd).

The project includes the Raw Water Regulation Tank, Mixing Tank,Flocculator, Clarifier, Filters, Clear Water Tank, Treated Water Pump House, Chemical Building, Chlorine House, Sludge Collection system and treated water transmission mains. In addition to that, an administration building, staff quarters and work shop also are available here.

Roads development works, landscaping and on-site roads are also implementing under this project. Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena recently made an inspection tour of the site with Disaster Management Deputy Minister Dulip Wijesekara, Western Provincial Councilor memberd Sisira Jayakody, G. Jayanath, Water Supply and Drainage Ministry Secretary A. Abegunasekara, Water Supply and Drainage Board chairman K. Hettiarachchi and Biyagama Pradesheeya Sabha chairman Ananda Ganepola