As Colombo succumbs again to flood waters, authorities blame unauthorised landfills and garbage dumping

Floods: when will we cope?

By Hiranthi Fernando

The flood that occurred in the city of Colombo last month was almost as bad as the great flood of 1992. A torrential downpour continued through the night of April 20/21 unleashing 280 mm of rain. By dawn, many of the roads in Colombo and the suburbs lay deep in water and countless homes were inundated.

To those who have experienced severe flooding of their homes, the rains are a nightmare. In recent times, even a few hours of heavy rain have sent city roads under water.

Authorities attribute the flooding to several reasons.

The population within Colombo Municipal limits of around 800,000 and Kotte limits around 300,000, continues to increase rapidly. Marshy lands have been filled in an unplanned manner to meet the high demand for land. Lack of equipment, organization and funding for effective maintenance of drainage systems has resulted in a neglected canal system. Roads have been improved without due consideration to storm water. Hence during heavy rains, many parts of the city and suburbs get inundated.

Director, City Planning of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), Mr. Raja Samarawickrema says that under the Housing and Town Improvements Ordinance of 1915 , the CMC had wide ranging powers. As the city developed, other agencies such as the Urban Development Authority (UDA), Water Supply and Drainage Board, Road Development Authority (RDA), Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLRDC), were established to take on some of these functions. The CMC was thus left with collection of garbage, maintenance of internal roads and drains and beautifying the city. "Earlier, during heavy rains, water flowed through the canals into retention areas. Later, it was taken back through the canals to the sea. With the severe reduction of retention areas, the rain water is taken directly through the canals to the sea. As the capacity of the canals is not sufficient for that volume of water, they overflow and cause flooding," Mr Samarawickrema said. Colombo Mayor, Mr. Omar Kamil has also taken initiatives to clean the CMC canals regularly, Mr. Samarawickrema said.

In the case of unauthorised structures, political interference often prevents action being taken. Since several authorities are involved in finding solutions to problems such as flooding, the Mayor meets with representatives of all agencies such as the UDA, SLLRDC, NHDA, RDA, Coast Conservation and Traffic Police every month to discuss important issues.

Chairman of the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation, Mr. Godwin Withana explained that with the development of the city, more and more land had to be filled leaving less for water retention. Thus the risk of flooding was increased. Studies to control floods began in the 1980s. After the flood in 1992 which was the worst so far, with 488 mm of rainfall in 15 hours, the Greater Colombo Flood Control and Environment Improvement Project was initiated in 1993 with funding from Japan through the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF).

Under Phase 1 of the three stage project, the main canals in the Greater Colombo area, approximately 34 km in length, were rehabilitated and a further eight km of new canals constructed at Madiwela, connected to Talangama Tank and the Kelani River Shanties along the canal banks were relocated and upgraded.Under Phase 2, 24 low spots in the city were identified. Of these, five separate storm water schemes, which were considered most important, were selected, namely Torrington West, Dematagoda, St. Sebastian, Serpentine canal, and Unity Place scheme. "The aim is to get water from these areas to go into these canals and through them into the main canals," Mr. Withana said. While the Unity Place scheme discharges storm water into the sea, the other four schemes discharge storm water to the Colombo Canal system which was improved under Phase 1.

Under this phase, a new underground drain will be constructed from Unity Place, Fifth Lane, across Duplication Road, Fifth Lane, Galle Road and through Stamboul Place to the sea. Four access shafts will be cut at four points, and concrete pipes of 2.5. metre diameter, will be pushed through by jacks. The earth will be pumped out in semi-liquid form. These measures are expected to relieve the major flooding areas in the city. Phase 2 is scheduled for completion in March 2001. "When this scheme is completed, Colombo should be flood free provided the water from the roads reach the canals," Mr. Withana said. "With the rains last month, the canals did not overflow which means they can cater for flood waters."

Phase 3, scheduled to start next March deals with the Kawdana and Attidiya areas. This aims to improve drainage by taking the water out at Bolgoda and Dehiwela. "There is a proposal to clean Lunawa Canal and Lake to complete this project but we do not have the money for this at present," Mr. Withana said. The unauthorised filling of land and dumping of garbage also causes flooding. According to Mr. Withana, 1000 acres of land in Kotte has been designated as a Retention Area, and an additional 1000 acres for Parliament. However, the Kotte Municipal Council is dumping garbage on this land, thus reducing the area available for water retention. Many others too continue to fill their lands without a permit. The SLLRDC is in the process of amending the law to enable them to take immediate action against offenders.As further measures to minimise flooding, SLLRDC has sought permission from the Ports Authority to reduce the Beira water level by opening the lock gates at the harbour or at the spillway at Galle Face, when the levels in the canal rises to 5'9". It is also planned to build two double groins into the sea at the outlets so that the canal outlets could be kept open all the time. Funds for this work will be available next year.

A committee has been recently set up with representatives of all the bodies such as CMC, RDA, UDA, SLLRDC, coordinated by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to take positive action on reducing the impact of flooding in Colombo. "All authorities have to coordinate their activities to achieve this," says Additional Secretary, of the Ministry Mr. Conrad Tissera. "Work is going on and we expect the situation to improve by the end of the year. By next monsoon season, we will be better prepared."

The authorities stress the importance of civic mindedness and co-operation of the public. Much money has been spent on expanding and rehabilitating the canals. If the public continue to use them as garbage dumping grounds, no purpose will be served, they say, pointing out that not only shanty dwellers but occupants of luxury houses along the canal banks throw garbage into the canals. Even some septic tanks are diverted to the canals. Politicians, moreover, should not condone the haphazard filling of marshy lands and dumping in retention areas. Government servants find it difficult to take action against offenders when they have political patronage. It needs a concerted effort by the public as well as those in authority to ensure that the city is kept free from floods.

Call these numbers

Information on unauthorised construction on drains could be given to

the CMC's Information Department Tel: 684291.

A reference number will be given for each complaint.

Information on unauthorised filling of marshy land or dumping of garbage on retention areas could be given to the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation -

Tel: 868002, 863705, 867533.

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