VILLAGERS IN HERAKOLA SUFFERING FOR 15 YEARS WITHOUT WATER
Over 200 families living in the Brayside settlement belonging to the Herakola Grama Niladhari Division in Gampola have been suffering an acute shortage of drinking water for the past 15 years. According to the people living in the area, families living right up to the vicinity of the Lanternhill settlement from Brayside settlement in Thembiligala are all victims of the acute shortage of water and are compelled to constantly engage in seeking water throughout the day and night. The situation is further pronounced due to the current drought prevailing in the area. It is said that the people who gather around available sources of water are compelled to wait in queues for 6 to 7 hours to collect their meagre supply of drinking water.
Officials of the water supply and drainage board have estimated that a water supply project to supply water to the affected areas would cost Rs.8 million.
The villagers who live in the area are unable to bear the cost of financing a project of such magnitude.
The elders in the village have requested the journalists to inform their sad plight to H.E. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and pray for an early solution
They have informed Provincial councillors, Government officers, parliamentarians and Ministers continuously over a 15 year period regarding their plight however their requests have fallen on deaf ears.
They allege that a former Pradeshiya Sabha member from the Ganga Ihala Korale Divisional Secretariat belonging to Nawalapitiya electorate had collected money from people living in the area towards a water supply project is now absconding.
A few villagers who can afford are in the practice of going to the Mahaweli River f or a bath, spending Rs. 300 or 400 as three-wheeler hire.
The elders in the village have requested the journalists to inform their sad plight to H.E. Gotabaya Rajapaksa and pray for an early solution since a large number of people including small children and mothers are suffering untold hardships for want of a basic human need.