In a press conference held in SLFP headquarters yesterday, Disaster management Minister Anura Yapa said that the government has allocated 10 million to remove flood debris now accumulated on both side of the streets in flood affected areas. All this debris will be collected and taken to a temporary place for the time being until a proper place is identified to dump it.
In this regard a meeting will be convened with the participation of Disaster management Ministry,Provincial council and Local government bodies. Thereafter, this will be discussed with the President before implementation.
Further he said that most of the low lying areas adjoining Kolonnawa canals were filled and buildings constructed obstructing natural water flow during rain. Because of this man made problem damage to property by flood is more. To clean and reconstruct these canals, the government has allocated 141 million, he said
In respect of landslides, while temporary camps established to accommodate landslide victims have now been reduced in other areas, Aranayake area is still under threat and camps are increasing. In these areas, no resettlement will be allowed but demarcated only for cultivation.
In Aranayake , residential area only affected by landslide, adjoining forest area remained intact. It shows that destroying forest to construct houses is also one reason for the landslide. We have sent 7 groups to do a research in Aranayake areas.
Disaster warning machine in deniyaya is only partly functional. We have ordered new machinery from Japan. This will arrive before the end of the year, he said.
