Long wait for compensation; payment of rents stopped two years ago
Residents forced to relocate or rent houses due to damage complain that compensation payments have been delayed for six years.
One of those who suffered, Lalith Wijesundara, 60, a businessman from Udaperuwa, Bandarawela told the Sunday Times that he had rented a house for six years as his house was deemed unsafe when cracks appeared in 2017. But, authorities only paid rent for four of the six years.
Mr Wijesundera who is also engaged in farming, apart from business, said his farmland was ruined as the water had drained from it. He complained that he was only compensated for crop damage in a single season. “I don’t know how they made that distinction. Overall, I only received compensation of Rs. 3.7 million.’’
Even the land allocated in an area under the Ella Divisional Secretariat, there are no access roads, no electricity and no water.
Relief to those badly affected had not been provided under a proper mechanism. The compensation process is not transparent, victims say.
More than 11,700 homes and buildings have been damaged, while some 3,700 wells have dried up.
Another badly-affected resident of Udaperuwa, Bandarawela, J.M.P.S Jayaweera, 54, who is a teacher, said those asked to leave their homes were promised land and compensation quickly. Authorities had promised infrastructure such as roads, water, and electricity
for their homes, he said.
“People were forced out of their homes and had to rent. The Government later stopped paying rent. This prompted many people to come back to their damaged homes despite repeated warnings by the National Building Research Organisation that it was dangerous for them,’’ Mr Jayaweera said.
The Badulla District Secretariat said the remaining compensation will be paid once allocations are made by the Ministry of Irrigation. The Badulla District Secretariat’s director of planning (acting), K.S.D Senanayake said Rs 1.51 billion has been paid as compensation to owners of 7,837 homes out of 9,105 homes that had been completely damaged. Residents of Hali Ela, Ella, Bandarawela, Haputale, Uva-Paranagama and Welimada have been compensated.
He said more than 1,268 families whose homes were completely damaged are yet to be compensated. About 7,513 families have been
given partial compensation.
Mr Senanayake said compensation has been paid for recurring damage to property, residences and businesses. Funds are sought from the line ministry after the evaluation department estimates damage. At present, Rs 1.75 billion has been allocated to pay those who had not been compensated, he said. “The residents of 336 homes that are fully damaged will evacuate after they are fully compensated.’’ Irrigation Minister Roshan Ranasinghe said contractors will hand over the project after completing the Uma Oya upstream project by June. There have been instances of damage to property.
“We have completely, and also partially paid compensation. There is more to be paid because of recurring damage. We still have to pay Rs 200 million overall to families affected by the Uma Oya upstream project,” Mr Ranasinghe said.