Is Drinking Water From River Kelani Suitable For Human Consumption?
By Sarath Wijesinghe –September 20, 2015
Sarath Wijesinghe
Water is only next to air for the living of the Human Being. Contaminated water will cause diseases and even death if precautions are not taken to purify water for human consumption. Animals too need water for existence but the degree of purity differs. They are more resistive on contamination. Today water is purified in large scale with modern technology and preventive measures are taken to purify water Rivers, Lakes and other catchment areas providing drinking water. Rivers and water resolvers are constantly purified by the State or the agents and monitored to provide pure drinking water to the citizen. Water is State property unless privatized. In Sri Lanka people have resisted attempts of privatization of water which is the most important, beautiful and productive National wealth. “Kelani” River is the main catchment natural water for the Greater Colombo consumers.
Water from “Kelani River”
There were recent disturbing reports of contamination water from “Kelani” River which is one of the most beautiful and the most polluted major river in Sri Lanka. Water is contaminated due to large number of factories and industries around and on the banks of the river releasing by products and dangerous chemicals freely to the river. Despite the stringent regulations and requirements to obtain certificates from the Government statutory bodies such as Central Environmental Authority, Water Board, Local Authorities, Consumer Affairs Authority, Police Grama Sevakas, Human Rights and Non-Governmental Organizations campaigning for human rights, and many other statuary/Government bodies contamination/pollution continues undisturbed and uninterrupted. Recently it was reported that Coca-Cola, one of the major powerful and rich multinational organizations was responsible for the contamination of the river with chemicals, factory by – products and oil patches resulted in pollution of water in the Greater Colombo area. It was further reported that the Central Environmental Authority has imposed a fine of One billion rupees for the damages caused to the filters and machinery amounting to billions and large scale contamination violating the agreement, environmental requirements and regulations. It is a criminal offence to release s large or small amounts of poison to the river. To date no precautionary measures have been taken to arrest the situation which is hazardous to the health of the citizen. We are not aware of steps taken by any statuary body under Criminal or Civil Procedure, Environmental Authority Law or any other law regulation for practices to date to arrest/correct the situation. The news is that the companies have been given a mere warning letter seeking an undertaking to be cautious in future. Had this taken place in a western country or even in India results would have been disastrous to the accused companies. Ironically the offence is continuing to be committed to date. Amounts involved are billions of rupees / dollars and there are suspicions on series of events steps taken/not taken and statements issued on this major disaster which involves the health of the consumers depending on the statute bodies for pure drinking water.Read More
