Measures to increase water supply for households - Minister

The government has taken all measures to increase the supply of water to cater to the rising needs of the people and the industrial sector, City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education Minister Rauff Hakeem said on Friday (22).

Hakeem was speaking as the chief guest at the World Water Day commemoration at the BMICH, Colombo. The event was organized by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board.

World Water Day, observed all over the world, since 1993, focuses on the importance of pure and safe water advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. The theme of 2019 Water Day is ‘Leaving no one behind’.

Minister Hakeem said Sri Lanka is very keen on achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals - VI to access affordable drinking water for all.

He said the impact of climate change includes the decrease in the flow of water in rivers and also decrease in the discharge of groundwater. It also causes long dry spells and threatens the regular supply and demand for the irrigational needs.

He said the Ministry has taken measures to improve and modernise the infrastructure system in line with the effects of climate change. Management of water resources and investing in research and development to increase supply of water are a few of the efforts undertaken by the Ministry, he noted.

“We are in the process of targeting 1.120 billion cubic meters of water by 2020 with the cooperation of allied sectors such as the Irrigation Department, Mahaweli Authority, Wildlife Department, Forest Department and other water conservation bodies.”

He recalled that the reservoirs such as Labugama, Kalatuwawa and Ambatale were built several decades ago and lately a reservoir was built in Vavuniya. “We will set up several more reservoirs in the coming years to conserve water for human needs.” Hakeem said only 20 percent of the water produced is being currently used for domestic, irrigational and industrial purposes.

He said there are 103 rivers in the island and plans are underway to harness water resources from rivers such as Mahaweli Ganga, Kalu Ganga, Malwatu Oya, Kala Oya and Deduru Oya.

State Minister Lucky Jayawardena, Ministry Secretary Priyantha Mayadunne, National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Chairman Eng. K.A. Ansar, Vice Chairman M.H.M. Salman and General Manager Eng. Deepthi Sumanasekara were present.