News
Drainage problem prevents flood waters receding
View(s):- Villagers claim businessman obstructed culvert
Pix and story by Hiran Priyakara Jayasinghe
A dispute between a businessman and a group of residents of Viruthodhi village in Puttalam had been brewing due to blocking of a culvert in the village main drainage system.
The residents complained that their houses got inundated by water over a two-month period as the businessman had obstructed a culvert of the village main drainage system situated near Viruthodhi main road.
They pointed out that around 25 houses get affected as rain water does not drain out of the village due to the obstruction.
According to them the roads to their houses, gardens as well as house premises had gotten inundated with water. The villagers added that they are unable to use their lavatory facilities at their houses as the houses remain flooded.
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- Mohammed Bakeer
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- Mohammed Aslam
They complained that they had informed the grama niladhari and other relevant officials such as Divisional Secretary during a four year period, yet they had failed to provide any solution for the matter.
The residents further claimed that the businessman even closed down the canal stretched through his property which directed the flow of drainage water out of the village when the culvert was closed down by him. As a result, rain water remains within their residential areas.
A resident who is affected by the issue, Mohomad Aslam said that they are heavily inconvenienced as his property is submerged by over a foot of water.
He pointed out they are unable to obtain groundwater from pipe wells, use washrooms due to flooding. He added that even people with small children had to leave the area as their living conditions were affected due to houses getting flooded.
The businessman who faces the dispute with the villagers identified as Mohomad Riswaan explained that the property belonging to his father was divided among their family members. Following that he constructed a broom factory and a building in the stretch of land belonging to him.
He said during that the village faced drainage issues, yet a group of people for personal reasons were creating the matter into a big problem by driving the villagers against him.
He added that he provided one and half feet wide drainage pipes, yet the village was flooded in the same manner.
“Then the Viruthodhi mosque contacted me and explained the drainage issue faced by villagers and requested if I could provide two feet wide drainage pipes.”
He had then provided 11 drainage pipes to rectify the issue.
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