Flood threat in Dehiwala

Dehiwala Waidya Road, Ranajayagama, Pinwatta , Sri Maha Vihara Road, and Waidya Place faced a flood threat recently due to the heavy rain experienced in the area. Several roads and houses in these areas had gone about three feet underwater due to overflow of the main canal.

Residents of the area said their houses had gone under water due to the overflow of the canal and that it resulted in extensive damage to the household effects.

D.a.tilakaratne, a resident of Waidya Road said that the area often faced a flood threat due to the overflow of the canal even during a minor shower and that it caused damage to house and property including household appliances.

“Waste water containing toilet waste flow down the roads and into houses. Our household effects including furniture were about four feet under water. The roads were impassable even for a trishaw. Vehicles transporting schoolchildren were ground to a halt preventing thousands of school children from attending school. In response to complaints, officials come and inspect the area and go off only promising to resolve the issue. The canal which is obstructed with the silt and rank vegetation does not allow the free flow of water. All waste water drains in several areas including Hill Street, Malwatta Road, and Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha in Dehiwala are linked to this canal flowing down Kalubowila area. The canal is not more than three feet wide at several locations due to the unauthorised erections encroaching the canal bund. Our continual representation to the relevant authorities in this regard has fallen on deaf ears”, he said.

Meanwhile, Member of the Dehiwala Mount Lavinia Municipal Council Rohitha Nagasinghe said the people in several areas were facing a flood treat when the canal overflowed. He said waste water flowed down the roads, and into the home gardens and houses creating a serious health hazard.

“The road and the houses in the area had gone more than three feet under water. The canal should be about six feet wide and six feet deep to prevent the flood threat. The unauthorized erections in the canal reservation have reduced the width of the canal to about three feet at Pinwatta, Sri Maha Vihara Road, and Waidya Road. First of all the unauthorized erections should be removed to resolve the issue or else tens of thousands of people living in the area would continue to face the flood threat. I have made representations in this regard to the Municipal Council”, he said.

Residents of the area pointed out that the flood threat that affected the area would have been an eye opener to the authorities who had ignored their representations regarding the issue.