News
Urgent moves to avert power-cuts
Fears of a breakdown in electricity generation and resultant power cuts have prompted the Government to appoint a ministerial team to come up on a “high priority” basis with proposals to avert a crisis. The committee, chaired by Senior Minister (Scientific Affairs) Tissa Vitharana, includes Senior Minister (Food Security) P. Dayaratne, Environment and Renewable Energy Minister Susil Premajayantha, Technology and Research Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, Public Administration Minister John Seneviratne, Power and Energy Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Petroleum Industries Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Civil Aviation Minister Geethanjana Gunawardena.
Water level in Kelani Ganga is at 2 ft. Pic by Indika Handuwela
The Cabinet has decided that recommendations on short term measures should be submitted expeditiously. The move has been prompted particularly due to the constant breakdown at the Lakvijaya (Norochcholai) Power Station. A top management team from China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), the firm that built the plant, was in Sri Lanka early this month to make an on-the-spot study. It came as the Government considered a proposal to hand over management of the project for two years to the Chinese firm.
The Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Union, however, is strongly opposed to the move. The union’s president, Janaka Aluthge, said yesterday that the three phases of the project at Lakvijaya would generate 900 megawatts of power and leaving it in the hands of a non-state entity would have serious implications.
Besides an urgent report on short-term proposals, the ministers have asked the Committee to also come up with medium and long-term proposals in its final report. This report, they have said, should be submitted to the Cabinet within one month.
Water-cuts imminent
In view of a looming water crisis, Water Supply Minister Dinesh Gunawardene has requested the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources Management to reduce with immediate effect the volume of water released for irrigation purposes.
A severe drought in many parts of the country prompted the Government yesterday to urge the public and the water and power management authorities to cut down on the use of water or risk a serious crisis in the supply of power and water.Similar instructions have also been conveyed to the Ministry of Power and Energy that depends on a sizeable water source to feed the national power grid, Minister Gunawardene told the Sunday Times.
He said a decision on water cuts in the Western Province would be taken on Thursday following discussions with other stakeholders. The weather forecast for the next few weeks indicates dry weather with zero chances of rain. The worst-hit areas are the Western Province, and the districts of Anuradhapura and Puttalam, according to officials.