Sad story of Kalupahana : Villagers still in temporary camps
Dec 06, 2016
About six months ago the country faced its most dreaded natural calamity in its recent history. As the torrential rains pour down from the skies, floods and landslides battered the people throughout the country claiming the lives of hundreds. Among the areas that were heavily affected by the floods and landslides, Kalupahana, Bulathkohupitiya holds a significant importance as an entire community was affected by the dreadful landslides. After six months since the nature's brutal punishment, around 100 families in Kalupahana area are still confined to temporary shelters, engulfed in suffering inside 7 camps. During the landslide around 20 families that had been residing at Kalupahana estate were buried alive under the collapsing earth. Furthermore, entire villages in Bulathkohupitiya area including Kandawa have been named hazardous areas due to the instability of the ground. Considering this dangerous situation,the authorities had taken steps to evacuate the villagers into temporary camps. Although at that time it was seen as a good decision, it has now become questionable as the situation has not been improved even a single bid during the last six months.
The villagers who have become refugees in their own neighborhood, complain that this has dragged their sorrowful lives into further misery. Last week we visited Bulathkohupitiya to check on the status of these people who had been displaced from their original dwellings for a long time. Unfortunately the situation we observed there was not at all pleasing. This article mainly focuses on the situation of the people who are still living in temporary camps set up in Kalupahana estate, Turabage, Palampitiya, Yak Ella, Adurapola, Niyus Mier and Uduwa.
After the natural disaster that struck on the 16th May 2016, floods and landslides were heard from all around the island. However, everyone stepped up to help those who were in peril. Therefore aid was swiftly given to displaced people. But unfortunately the problem had occurred not in collecting aid but in distributing them. During our tour in Bulathkohupitiya, many villagers complained that there had been no coordination in properly distributing the aid that was received by the AGA office. Some people even said that due to the lack of supervision and planning, a large quantity of food items and dry food rations such as rice, Dhal, Coconuts and culinary products had expired at the stores and had been discarded. On the day we visited the Bulathkohupitiya DS office the displaced people were there to pick up their rations. Since the Divisional Secretary of Bulathkohupitiya is currently on maternity leave, the Divisional Secretary of Ruwanwella has been appointed as the acting DS for Bulathkohupitiya. Unfortunately he too was not present at the premises on that day. Therefore the assistant secretary of the Bulathkohupitiya DS office stated that she could not make any comment to the media regarding the procedure.
During our observational tour in Kalupahana estate it was evident to us that the people who had been displaced by the landslide are still living in temporary cantonments. In the Kalupahana estate alone 16 families have been forced make their living whilst staying inside tents. They have been forces to live in these unacceptable conditions for over six months now. Although a housing scheme has been initiated in a safe area in the estate to resettle these families under the instructions of the President, the Prime Minister and deputy minister foe national languages and social integration P.Digambaram in June, So far it is moving in a snail's pace as no house has been completed yet. The only visible mark of the scheme is the sight of some foundations that have been laid near to the camp. The scheme had proposed to construct houses on 4 perch plots with the expense of Rs. 65,000 per house. But the builders have complained that without construction material, it costs at least Rs.120,000 for a house to be constructed. The scheme which is being carried out by the Ministry of Infrastructure, has been given to a private firm.
Apart from the bleak future, the residents of these refugee camps have also faced problems in their current dwellings as well. There are few large trees in the camp which poses a threat to the tents. Since the rains have started once again there is a risk of these trees collapsing onto the ground. Although most of the trees had been removed when preparing the ground for the camp, these trees had been spared since the initial idea had not been to keep the people in the camps for a long time, construction officials said. Further they claimed that the delay in removing trees had also affected the delay in constructions.
Expressing his views regarding the housing project, Deputy Minister Digambaram says that the project would be completed by April next year. He said that the project includes 100 houses for those who have been displaced.
Meanwhile many residents of the camps complained to us that they have become fed up with the living conditions in the camp. All of them claimed that the only thing that they want now is a house. It is obvious how these people are suffering while living in these camps as they have to earn their living as well as look after the needs of the children. They said that during the rainy season they even have to be cautious of the serpents who are creeping into the tents. They complained that the authorities have so far paid little regard as to these horrid living conditions they have been placed upon. Even now during heavy rains these people live in fear as the trauma of their previous experiences have not yet passed away. Since the camp in Yakkella is set up at the Yakkella School, the children at the school have also faced difficulties in carrying out their education. There are various other practical problems in these camps. Similar to these problems, the people who are still living in their own houses in the area have also faced problems such as their houses being unstable due to the unstable nature of the ground. The school is now home to 24 families. Although they had been offered housing in Karandhawatta area, the people have refused to go there since it is situated in a remote area. It was also evident to us that the temporary houses that had been set up in these areas are of poor quality. Thus these people have fallen into the lowest standards of the society after losing everything they had as a result of a disaster that had happened in one night. At present they have even been forced to rely on drinking water that is being provided as humanitarian aid from a nearby resident.
Saman Jayasinghe, H.P Gunadasa, Malini Priyanka, Sanjeewaniand Pathmalatha, who are living in these camps said that even though they had expressed their willingness to go to new areas, so far they had not received the promised financial aid from the government. The camp has been set up by the Small Tea Estates Authority at an old building. It is in a poor condition and is also a hazard to the residents who have taken refuge inside. "People in Aranayake have protested against the authorities about the poor living conditions they have been place on. But we have not protested about it. So the government has taken our silence for granted." they said.
These families have been compelled to live inside a tent 10 sq. feet wide. The lack of space have created immense trouble for these people. The community here is consisted of both Sinhala and Tamil ethnic groups. And every one is making the single demand of proper housing. We also checked the rations that had been given to them by the DS office. One such ration contained clothing and books. But many have complained that these cloths can hardly be worn. They point out that what they need most now are essential food items. Meanwhile most of the rations have been distributed 5 moths after the disaster. These irregularities have made the residents in Kalupahana to become disappointed about the administration.
When queried regarding the matter, the acting Divisional Secretary Indiaka Liyanage said that so far the financial allocations have not passed to solve the housing issue. HE also said that 33 temporary houses are being built in Kendawa area. Speaking regarding the problems with the rations, he said that he is unaware of such thing and that anyone who possess such information can complain to the DS office. He also said that they are utilizing their available sources to help the residents.
He said that the problems of removing trees are mainly due to the delays of the plantation companies.
However, in the end the lives of these innocent people have been put through a rough road. Even after six months they have not been shown any hope of a stable future. Thus it is the responsibility of the authorities to take immediate steps to rectify this issue as these are our own citizens.
AshWaru Colombo
