No cause for caution in Karandagolla water leak – Prof. Senaratne

The former Senior Lecturer of the Geosciences Department at the Peradeniya University, Emeritus Professor Athula Senaratne, stated that there are straightforward measures to address any water leaks in the underground tunnel constructed under the Uma Oya project. He criticized the National People’s Power (NPP) for exploiting the issue to instill fear and gain political advantage, describing such tactics are unacceptable.

Prof.Senaratne noted that minor issues commonly arise at the inauguration of significant development projects, a phenomenon also observed in developed countries.

He further highlighted that the landslides observed in the Karandagolla area, attributed to water surfacing from the ground, could be due to a leak in the tunnel or the reactivation of an ancient water source.

Prof.Senaratne mentioned that the commencement of tunnel excavation under the Uma Oya project led to the drying of local springs and the subsidence of buildings. He had inspected these issues himself and assured that they would gradually resolve following the completion of construction. “During the tunnel’s construction, the seepage of spring water into the soil caused it to contract, leading to building cracks, sinking and the drying of wells,”he said.

He said that any leaks in the new pipeline would be clearly detectable once the water flow commenced.

Identifying and permanently resolving such leaks in the Uma Oya underground pipeline is feasible, and he urged the public not to be swayed by politically motivated, misleading statements.

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