Revealing reasons for unprecedented floods in Gampaha city a researcher at Moratuwa University says that only 02 canals out of 11 have been functioning properly and he says there are no proper ways to flow rainwater at an extreme rain event.
Professor Lalith Rajapaksa who commented on his views with Sirasa Newsfirst said that 11 canals were operated in Gampaha city by making the water supply system efficient. Now there are only two canals, and many reasons that are not in harmony with the nature created by us, including irregular construction, and development projects that have been going on for years without completion, have made Gampaha city a serious disaster.
Quoting Professor Lalit Rajapakse who recently investigated Attanagalu Oya, News First had reported that natural causes as well as human activities led to the disaster of submergence of Gampaha town.
Professor Rajapakse pointed out that due to heavy rains in the catchment area of Attanagalu Oya for the past 10 days, the groundwater level in the Oya area had risen.
The professor reveals that since Attanagalu Oya flows along a large slope from the beginning of it to Gampaha, but from Gampaha to Ja Ela, the flow to the lagoon is at a low slope, so the arrival of large amounts of water tends to overflow.
The professor pointed out that if the canals and drain systems in Gampaha city were in place properly such damage would not have occurred.
Professor Rajapaksa said that drew the attention of the authorities that a few years ago there were eight canals to go down in Gampaha city, but now there are only two canals.
He points out that some new constructions in the city are also harmful to the ecosystem.
Due to the reasons created by the residents of Gampaha, such as the lack of an ecosystem to absorb the water, the blockage of the canals and drainage systems to drain the water, and the development projects not being completed for many years, a phenomenon that was supposed to occur naturally has increased to a level of damage, Prof. Lalith Rajapaksa further commented.
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