Puttalam: Little puddles for drinking water
Over two hundred thousand peasants in Anamaduwa, Nawa- gaththegama, Mahakumbukkadawala, Wanathavilluwa, and Mundalama in the Puttalam distict are undergoing severe hardship as a result of the prevailing dry weather. Drinking water is scare and costly, making life extremely difficult to them.
All wells and other sources of drinking water in the aforementioned villages have run dry.
Wells dug in river banks for bathing are now being used for drinking water and pose a health hazard.
W. Dilki of Vanathavillu a resident said: “We live on the banks of Boralu Wewa which is now dry. W are forced to use the little puddles water collected from the river bed, the water is dirty, but we have no choice. We also dig wells in the river bed and collect cups of water for drinking after filtering it. “.
The government has asked the public to use water sparingly and avoid wastage in times of extreme drought. Mr. Peris advised families to collect water in domestic water tanks during times of supply. Until water levels in the Mahaweli catchment areas im- prove, the authorities will be compelled to delay or stagger water distribution, and water cuts may be necessary, he said.
The drop in paddy production has so far not affected market prices for rice, according to the Minister of Agriculture.