WASTE WATER IN DEHIWALA
The main waste water canal that transmits waste water and storm water from the Dehiwala town to the sea at Wellawatta and to the Weres river through Attidiya lake and Katuela canal in Nedimala has been obstructed by unauthorized structures.
Residents of the area pointed out that the free flow of waste water from Kalubowila to Dehiwala had been obstructed by hundreds of unauthorized structures along the canal reservation. They said the cleaning and maintenance of the canal had been neglected due to these obstructions and that the canal was now filled to the brim with waste water and storm water from the recent rain causing a serious health hazard in the area.
Wilson Perera a resident from Kawdana said the canal had now turned a mosquito breeding ground which spreads over a large area exposing us to the danger of a Dengue epidemic. He pointed out that dumping of garbage in the neglected canal was going on unchecked and that it worsened the situation.
“The bridge over the canal spanning Kadawatha Road and Galvihara Road collapsed long ago due to bad maintenance. Due to incessant agitation by the public, the authorities constructed a concrete bridge which is not wide enough even for a trishaw to pass. The canal bank at several locations is used as dumping grounds. Individuals travelling in vehicles throw garbage bags into the canal. If the canal was well maintained it would not be misused. Municipal Council or the Urban Development Authority should have taken action against the unauthorized structures along the bund to protect the canal” he said.
U.d.abraham (55) a resident of Nedimala said, I travel by trishaw from Nedimala to Dehiwala quite often and it is with great difficulty that I pass through the narrow bridge. Thousands of vehicles use this road in the morning as a by-pass road to avoid the traffic congestion in Karagampitiya and gain access to Galle Road through Quarry Road, Hill Street, and Anagarika Dharmapala Road. The bridge over the canal that creates a bottle neck needs widening. The canal is an eyesore due to haphazard dumping of garbage and the unauthorised structures. The canal could be maintained and cleaned only if these structures are removed. The owners of unauthorised structures should be held responsible for dumping of garbage in the canal and the canal bund. These obstructions prevent the easy access of machinery and equipment to the canal bund. ” He said.
Residents of the area requests the Municipal Council and the UDA to remove the unauthorised structures on the canal bund and to clean the canal to allow the free flow of water.