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Danger of landslide: 21 families evacuated from Uma Oya project area
View(s):In view of the fear of landslides, 21 families have been evacuated from Aluth Gama and Dikarawa villages at Ella in the Badulla district, Disaster Management Centre Deputy Director Pradeep Kodippili said. He said these families had been evacuated even before the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) gave a warning.
However, NBRO oficials said they had identified 12 to 15 families for evacuation from these areas which are facing a threat because of the controversial Uma Oya project. Badulla District NBRO Officer Kelum Senviratna said they were identifying other houses which had cracks in the walls and would be in danger if there was a landslide.
He said three teams had been deployed to inspect 3,400 houses in the two villages and, if necessary, evacuation warnings would be issued today. Mr Seneviratna, a geologist, said the investigations should be conducted before any rainfall to ascertain the danger to houses from possible landslides.
Meanwhile, the People’s Front against the Multi-destructive Uma Oya Project said they always feared the Uma Oya project would cause landslides, and now it had become a reality. The group said heavy rains for more than half an hour on Thursday had increased the danger of landslide. Water was draining through the cracks and coming out from houses downhill.
The group said several houses in Walasmulla, Udaperuwa areas and Thanthiriya also face the danger of landslides.Meanwhile Ella Divisional Secretary Thanuksha Abeywardene said if large numbers of people had to be evacuated they would be given temporary shelter at the Youth Centre and the Science Faculty hostel in Bandarawela. Compensation would also be given to them.