Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem says that they would be compelled to completely shut down the Ambatale water treatment plant only if the water level reaches 23 feet but expressed confidence that such a situation would not arise.
“Since yesterday we have seen a steady decrease of water level and it has gone down to 19 feet 11 inches by early morning today,” he told Parliament on Friday (20).
We have also kept the necessary water pumps on standby to pump out water seeping into the pump house and the navy’s assistance in this regard must be appreciated, Hakeem said.
He stated that due to the natural phenomenon of the sea level increase, tomorrow being the Poya Day, it may rise up to 0.5 meters.
In such a situation discharge of water from the river will slow down and the water level rising could be observed, the minister said.
“With the receding flood levels, we can confidently say that it will not reach the critical 23 feet which will necessitate any shutdown of Ambatale new intake.”
He also dispelled rumours being spread regarding the quality of the water of the Kelani River.
“We must also assure consumers that there is no truth to the rumour that the Kelani River water had been severely polluted with oil and we can guarantee the quality of water that had been treated and supplied to the consumers,” he stressed.
