Canal meant to reduce floods causes flooding in village

About 150 families in the Alamba village in Maikkulam, Chilaw claim that they have been exposed to floods due to a canal that had been dug in an unsystematic manner. 

The canal had been dug by the Puttalam District Disaster Management Unit about a year ago on a request made by the Puttalam District Coordination Committee. The committee had made the request as part of efforts to minimise flood threats in the Chilaw area. 

The canal had been dug on either side of the Puttalam-Colombo railway line from Kakapalliya to Chilaw. The project had cost Rs.3.6 million. 

However, the water which flows along this canal has now caused flooding in the Alamba village. Most roads in the village had been inundated by yesterday (21) while water was also making its way to houses. Residents charge that no official has so far arrived to check the situation in the area. 

Residents claim that the flooding in the village is due to the canal, which authorities had allegedly dug in an unsystematic manner. They claim that water flows into the village as there is no proper way for the canal to flow into the nearby lagoon. 

When contacted, Puttalam Divisional Secretary Anura Kumara Dissanayake said he will look into the matter and try to provide a speedy solution. 

Text and Pix by Augustine Fernando in Chilaw

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