- Chairman says existing wells being rehabilitated
In the wake of concerns raised by the Water Resources Board (WRB) over the environmental impact of large-scale groundwater extraction, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) stated it is carrying out groundwater extraction strictly within the limits set by the former.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, NWSDB Chairman Chandana Bandara said groundwater extraction was being carried out in districts including Monaragala and Batticaloa to address local water shortages, while the NWSDB was mainly rehabilitating previously used groundwater sources instead of developing new ones. “We are given the limitations by the WRB as to the extent to which we can carry out extraction. Within those limitations, we are extracting water to facilitate the areas where extraction is taking place.”
He said the NWSDB had commenced groundwater extraction in the Monaragala and Batticaloa districts, where several abandoned groundwater sources were available. “There are a few abandoned, previously used groundwater sources. What we are mainly doing is rehabilitating them. Several shallow wells that had previously been used by local communities but were later abandoned are being cleaned and restored for groundwater production. There are 64 tube wells in the Monaragala District that are being cleaned at the moment,” he said.
Bandara further said the NWSDB was also taking into account concerns raised by the WRB about the possible long-term environmental damage caused by excessive groundwater extraction. He said the NWSDB was not extracting groundwater beyond the limits prescribed by the WRB. “It is only from Mannar that we did a large-scale extraction. Now we are given the limitation guidelines for that as well. It is only within those conditions that we extract groundwater,” he said.
He added that he was also due to meet officials of the WRB today (31) to discuss whether any further conditions or adjustments would be required. “I will arrange a meeting with the WRB to seek whether there are further adjustments we need to adhere to in extracting water.”
He also stressed that groundwater extracted in one area was not being transported to other parts of the country. “We do not distribute extracted water from one area to another. We do not even motorise these wells to extract water. It is only the hand-operated pumps that are used,” Bandara said.
The NWSDB launched the groundwater extraction initiative in anticipation of drought conditions expected in connection with El Niño, with the aim of providing water to communities facing shortages.
However, Assistant General Manager of the WRB Ruwan Rajapaksha has raised concerns over the possible environmental consequences of excessive groundwater extraction. He has said climate change is already contributing to declining groundwater levels and warned that unregulated extraction could cause significant environmental damage.