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Economic crisis : New water connections blocked by import bans

04 Sep 2022

 
  • NWSDB seeks relief from restrictions, more dollars
  • Disconnect water to MPs who don’t pay arrears: Speaker
  The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has written to the Treasury Secretary regarding the delisting of pipes, fittings, and water purification chemicals needed to issue new water connections to customers and keep the filtration process ongoing, The Sunday Morning learns.  The move comes after water pipes and fittings were listed under the import controls gazetted last month, tanking the NWSDB’s plans to recommence issuing new connections following funding by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and assistance from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) to source dollars needed to import water meters for new customers.  According to NWSDB Deputy General Manager of Supplies and Material Management R.M.A. Bandara, the new import regulations have added a new challenge to a utility already struggling to provide services.  NWSDB Assistant General Manager Piyal Pathmanatha told The Sunday Morning that there were water meters, pipes, and fittings needed for new connections stuck in cargo consignment at the Port warehouses, with the NWSDB struggling to get them released.  According to Pathmanatha, the NWSDB has been able to issue around 90,000 new connections over the last eight months. However, on average, the NWSDB used to issue approximately 150,000 new connections per year (2002).  Sources at the NWSDB said some consignments were now incurring demurrage payments for delays in clearing them. “However, with the situation improving, we are confident we can improve the numbers in the coming months,” the sources said. Meanwhile, it is learnt that the NWSDB met with the Speaker of Parliament regarding unpaid dues by parliamentarians, and it is understood that the Speaker had directed the NWSDB to provide him with a list of outstanding payments, which he had stated he would pursue.  The Speaker had instructed the NWSDB to disconnect MPs’ water supply if their bills were not settled within two months as per normal practice. It is also learnt that discussions are currently underway with the Ministry of Defence and other line ministries that have arrears with the NWSDB.  While the forex shortage issue that the NWSDB was facing over the last eight months may be gradually reducing, fund availability remains a concern, The Sunday Morning learns. However, it is unlikely that the utility provider can supply the annual requirement of connections due to regulations and high price of components. Responding to a question, NWSDB Chairman Nishantha Ranatunga told The Sunday Morning that difficulties faced by the utility earlier this year and in 2021 to source forex for the import of water meters had been addressed (to an extent) with the assistance of the ADB and the CBSL, with new connections being issued now. He pointed out that the fuel shortage also complicated the duties of the NWSDB, with many staff members unable to commute to work. Ranatunga pointed out that during the Covid-19 pandemic, the utility’s focus had been on sustaining the supply of water to existing customers – both domestic and industrial. He said that the task of providing more connections to those who had been waiting could now go ahead, adding that with the forex issue improving at the CBSL, he remained optimistic that services could return to normal soon. However, he did not disclose details about the number of pending connections. Attempts to contact Minister of Water Supply Keheliya Rambukwella and the Ministry Secretary regarding the delays of the NWSDB and the arrears owed proved futile.    – By Asiri Fernando  


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