Water Usage Policy needed – Prof. C.B. Dissanayake

By L.B. Semaratne

Professor C.B. Medduma Bandara, a past Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya said that a survey conducted by the engineering faculty showed the wastage of water within the University had risen by eighty per cent.

Professor Medduma Bandara - a geologist, was speaking at a press briefing at a "Geohydrology Training Workshop" held at the Post Graduate Institute of Science, sponsored by the South African Water Sector's Support to Areas affected by the Tsunami in Sri Lanka.

Professor C.B. Dissanayake also of the university said the state should adopt a national policy on the construction of ‘deep wells’.

He said it was necessary to bring in legislation to control the construction of ‘deep wells’ so as to avoid the effect of haphazard construction of deep Wells in Bangladesh and India.

In answer to questions raised by the press regarding the legality of drilling deep wells as widely advertised in the city of Colombo, Professor Dissanayake emphasised the need for a national policy and legislation in regard to the usage of water. He said this became more important considering the world wide situation concerning the water resources around the world.