Megapolis hits red alert warning on disaster responsiveness
Experts say ‘first things first’
Ms. Dayalanie Abeygunawardena, COO Janashakthi Insurance
by Sanath Nanayakkare-March 23, 2017, 9:21 pm
Awakening to the intense need of flash-flood controls and disaster-meeting capacity in the proposed western Megapolis; foreign consultants, local experts and engineers are going back to risk management basics saying 'first things first'.
They have begun exploring ways for disaster responsiveness, giving it the priority over the ambitious plans of the Megapolis' roads, bridges, light rails and dynamic cities designed to achieve the country's aspiration of becoming a global hub by 2025.
In this backdrop, foreign consultants and JICA together with scores of local engineers and experts in land reclamation, irrigation, water resource management, flood control, climate resilience and a leading insurer of the country had a seminar in Colombo on Tuesday to discuss key bottlenecks in safe drinking water, drainage, sewerage, solid waste, pollution, relocation of residents, and proposed Megapolis infrastructure which would be highly vulnerable to the effects of flooding which exacerbates on any given day by climate change and sea level rise.
Ms. Dayalanie Abeygunawardane, COO Janashakthi General Insurance Ltd. requested the experts and policymakers to act fast on disaster responsiveness in the proposed western Megapolis, or otherwise, insurers would be compelled to pass on expensive high-risk premiums to their clients who take out insurance for their commercial establishments, warehouses, logistical facilities and even residences in the 'booming' Megapolis.
"As insurers we have seen first hand the economic, financial and emotional devastation flash-flood victims go through when flood waters and avalanches of mud sweep into their business establishments and houses, completely destroying their assets and belongings. During the tragic May floods in Sri Lanka, the insurers compensated Rs. 15 billion on claims. As you are aware there were so many hapless victims who hadn't had any insurance and as a result, extreme bad luck was thrown at them. So, please focus your attention on mitigation of such climate threats and risks," she said.
The experts and engineers exchanged their views on proper design and maintenance of micro and macro drainage systems, flood retention areas near the river banks of Kalu Ganga and Kelani Ganga as well as plans with effective lead-times to respond to flash floods.
The experts also focused on the overall risks management capacity of the implementing agencies, robust resettlement measures and strong communication and public awareness efforts to minimize both social and more general stakeholders’ risks associated with Megapolis development, to facilitate its smooth implementation.
The seminar was addressed by Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, architect Surath Wickramasinghe, engineer Dr. Kitsiri Weligepolage, engineer S.P.C. Sugeeshwara Timothy Hannan- team leader, Climate Resilience Project, World Bank, Firzan Hashim, Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management, engineer Upali Delpachitre, Hiroki Hashimoto, JICA Sri Lanka Office, engineer Maj. Ranjith Gunatillake and Ms. Dayalanie Abeygunawardane, COO Janashakthi General Insurance Ltd.
The event was hosted by the Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka (CCI).
