Don't destroy Gammanpila Wewa, urge residents

Effluent from nearby factory polluting river:

Vinitha Manel Gamage, Haltota group corr

Residents in Gammanpila, Bandaragama urged authorities to intervene and save Gammanpila Wewa which is their main source of livelihood, from eventual destruction.

The Gammanpila Wewa with the industrial factory in the background. Picture by Vinitha Manel Gamage

They allege that industrial effluents released to this water body from a nearby factory over the last few years has polluted and contaminated its water making its use a potential health hazard.

Bathing in this polluted reservoir has become dangerous as it has caused skin irritations to many residents. The fish density too had diminished over the years due to the contaminated water and the growth of lotus flowers which offer a form of livelihood for people engaged in plucking the flowers for sale to flower stalls.

The polluted water has posed a serious danger to paddy and other crops in the area irrigated by the reservoir. Gunaselli Gammanpila, 77, a resident said they earlier used water from the wewa for bathing and other daily chores of the household, now people even fear to tread into the wewa.

Kalyani Wimalka, 27, said the drain leading to the wewa from the nearby factory has tell tale signs of effluents being discharged to the wewa surreptitiously. Bandaragama Pradeshiya Sabha Vice Chairman Devendra Perera said that they have received complaints from the farmer community regarding the alleged release of effluents from the factory.

They have planned to clean up and conserve the wewa soon by demarcating a special reserve around it.