Illegal constructions cause for flooding along Kelani River: Lankan Irrigation Department

Sri Lanka's Department of Irrigation has said that major cause for the constant threat of flooding along the Kelani River Valley is due to improper and illegal constructions.

Chandrika Ethugala, Director of Department of Irrigation said that a 33-feet wide reservation on either side of a Kelani River or any major river should be maintained to minimize the flood threat, reports Colombo Page.

However, she said that some people have claimed the land up to the Kelani River as their private property, and built illegal structures.

Director General of the Department of Irrigation, Saman Weerasinghe, meanwhile, pointed out that these illegal constructionsduring the past few decades could not be controlled due to the interference of several authorities.

Weerasinghe added that these illegal constructions should be removed in order to control the overflowing of the river.

The official said that reservations of the Kelani River banks from Modera to Poogoda area should be cleared and maintained properly to minimize flood hazard.

Due to overflowing of the Kelani River, several areas including Seethawaka, Kaduwela and the Kollonnawa have been inundated.

The Irrigation Department official has said that water level of the River was gradually receding and would be back to normal within the next few days if there was no heavy rainfall in the catchment areas.

Meanwhile, Lankan Navy Medical Officers along with Medical Assistants have conducted a series of health camps for the people affected by the floods.

According to the Disaster Management Center, till yesterday, 242,927 people were still displaced and 348,476 people affected by the floods and landslides in 22 districts of Sri Lanka.