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Only critical repairs, despite multibillion-rupee damage to roads from rain
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Afftermath of floods at Akuressa, Athureliya area. Pic by Priyantha Dasanayaka
The estimated damage to roads due to unfavourable weather in the latter half of last year was Rs. 13 billion, the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) was told.
According to Ranjith Rubasinghe, secretary, Ministry of Highways, Rs. 2.1 billion has been budgeted to rebuild roads severely damaged during recent downpours.
The COPE session was presided over by Parliamentarian Rohitha Abeygunawardena. Furthermore, an estimated Rs. 5 billion is needed for unfinished road works to restore damage caused by rains, costing Rs. 2.2 billion and Rs. 2.8 billion for the damage during the latter half of last year.The ministry had planned to seek additional funding last year, but in light of the current circumstances, the Treasury has asked that they use the funds allotted, the committee was told.
For the time being, priority will be given to critical work, Mr. Rubasinghe said.
A policy decision will be made a priority for quality assurance in road development by the Ministry of Transport and Highways, Mr. Rubasinghe said.
The COPE chairman was questioned about the engineers’s strike that had stalled road construction work over the past few weeks.
Mr. Rubasinghe said that although they had ceased taking part in some construction work, regular work had resumed on June 15.
The committee recommended that the ministry speed up the work.
Parliamentarian Anura Priyadarshana Yapa questioned the committee about monitoring the standard of projects.
In response, the Additional Secretary (Engineering), Kithsiri Dissanayake, said that the RDA and the Ministry of Transport and Highways are in charge of certain projects. Every province has labs that have been developed.
Furthermore, projects are assigned to independent consultants who adhere to the ministry’s standards and specifications.
Mr. Yapa proposed that the RDA be transformed into a regulator.
Mr. Abeygunawardena said directives will be issued to the RDA, the Water Board, the Ceylon Electricity Board, and Telecom. They must collaborate when implementing initiatives.
A policy decision regarding Mr. Yapa’s suggestion to transform the RDA into a regulatory authority would be considered, Mr. Rubasinghe said.
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