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Dozens of blocked canals worsen Colombo flooding risk
View(s):By Nadia Fazlulhaq
With the Asian Cup cricket tournament taking place in Colombo and rainy weather expected to continue, authorities are struggling to prevent another episode of flash flooding, similar to the one that submerged the streets in the city a week ago.
Videos of flash floods in Colombo went viral on social media, with some international viewers expressing doubt about the venue for Asia Cup cricket matches.
The Colombo Municipal Council has identified several flood-prone areas and they include: Chaitya Road, Norris Canal Road, Deans Road, Galle Face Terrace, Prof. Nandadasa Kodagoda Mawatha, Palm Grove, W.A. Silva Mawatha, Bloemendhal Road, George R. De. Silva Mawatha, Nagalagam Street, Madampitiya Road, Jethawana Road, Col. T.G. Jayawardena Mawatha, Borella junction, Robert Gunawardena Mawatha, Poorwarama Road, Manning Place, Arethusa Lane, Siridhamma Mawatha and Sangaraja Mawatha.
These areas are in need of immediate prevention measures.
Commissioner Bhadrani Jayawardena said illegal structures, pending court cases, narrow stormwater pipelines, and continuous dumping of waste into drainage and canals are obstacles to flood mitigation.
“We cannot even figure out why the flooding in Fort happened. Currently, the CMC is working with the Ports Authority to check whether the Port City construction had an impact,” she said.
She said close to Rs 1 billion would be needed to lay new underground stormwater pipelines.
“Opening the Beira Lake sluice gates and using the two stormwater pumping stations of the Metro Colombo Urban Development Project are seen as immediate measures to control floods,” she said, adding that the CMC is working with the Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLDC) to implement drainage and canal clearance work.
After the floods, the Ministry of Urban Development said it allocated Rs. 595 million from the Treasury to immediately start cleaning Colombo’s 44-kilometre canal network through the SLLDC.
SLLDC Chairman Hiran Balasuriya told the Sunday Times that the main reason for the floods was the dumping of waste, ranging from plastics, polythene, cans, and discarded oil, in the canals.
“Apart from the major canal system, there are 53 more minor canals that need to be maintained to prevent wastewater, illegally discharged sewerage water and garbage from being dumped. The CMC should pay more attention to cleaning roadside drains and getting illegal settlements removed,” he said.
Champika Ranawaka, former minister of Megapolis and Western Development also blamed the CMC for not maintaining the city’s drainage system.
“This negligence for the past three years and illegal construction blocking drains and canals have led to this overflow condition,” he told the media this week.
The Meteorology Department, while forecasting moderate to heavy rains in the coming weeks, warned that the El Nino condition, which triggered prolonged drought, could also bring unexpected heavy rainfall within short durations.
The Colombo University’s senior geography lecturer, Dr. Ananda Karunaratne, said torrential rains and extreme weather conditions call for a strong flood mitigation system in Colombo city.
Dr. Karunaratne warned that flood waters could cause water-borne diseases and if they stagnate, they could breed mosquitoes.
It was not only flood waters that threatened the city; a number of fallen trees on some busy roads were also reported near the World Trade Centre and the Magistrate Courts.
“Tree roots are often damaged from road development work. These trees tend to fall during strong winds,” said Kailayar Ramesh, director of CMC’s Lands and Environmental Department. Pix by Nisal Baduge
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