By Pranavesh Sivakumar
The haphazard
disposal of industrial waste oil has contaminated the water table in the
Chunnakam, south division, a resident told Ceylon Today.
An office
branch belonging to a Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) power plant has been
discharging harmful waste oil without being treated.
Residents
said the 'speedy oil' was mixing with clean, safe water.
People
complained that they were greatly inconvenienced without other sources of safe
drinking water. Nearly 200 families in and around Chunnakam had been affected
by this disposal of harmful industrial waste, Ceylon Today learns.
The
residents had made several attempts to bring the matter to the notice of
several authorities including the Environmental Society in Battaramulla, AGA
(Kachcheri) office in Uduvil, Urban Council Chunnakam and the Grama Niladhari
in Chunnakam, but without avail. The land where the waste is deposited is
called a 'High Security Zone,' which is neglected land.
The matter
was taken up in 2009, but has not been resolved. Drinking contaminated water
has resulted in many residents suffering skin rashes.
Knowledgeable
sources said Minister Douglas Devananda and Northern Province Chief Minister
C.V. Wigneswaran had held talks in the past on the matter, but without result.
Further,
although temporary solutions like distributing drinking water in bourses no
permanent solution was found, residents said.
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