Sewage Woes
Six months have gone by since the tsunami, and the people of Weligama are complaining about the stench.
The sewage system -- a network of open canals leading to the sea -- became filled up when debris from the tsunami was added to the tons of garbage that had been dumped there over the years. Instead of flowing out to the sea, the sewage has just been sitting in the canals, the biggest of which is about two meters deep and three meters wide.
A group of German sewage experts arrived in Weligama in May to clear the canals with the help of some locals. They had come from Frankfurt-on-Oder, Weligama's sister city in Germany. The local people were happy to see them, saying that it was noble of the "white men," as Westerners are called in Sri Lanka, to do such a dirty job.
But the German experts stopped work after just four days, saying they did not have the proper equipment. They haven't returned, and people are now wondering when, if ever, the canals will be cleared.
When there are heavy rains, some parts of town become flooded with sewage. The smell is particularly bad near the railway station, where the water doesn't flow at all. The stench of the garbage-filled canals is becoming practically unbearable.
-- Sascha Gerbracht
By washingtonpost.com |
June 28, 2005; 5:00 AM ET
| Category:
Sascha Gerbracht
Previous: Needs Not Met |
Next: A Slight Tsunami Scare...
Posted by: Dan Dashner | June 29, 2005 06:59 PM
I feel really sad to hear the progress on fixing problems caused by December 2004 tsunami! However one has to understand no matter what happen in Sri Lanka there are families who are helping to rebuild Weligama area. Here is a such an organization, and please join this organization to rebuild Weligama! http://lankadirect.org/
Thank you,
Geshan
Posted by: Geshan Alwis | July 1, 2005 12:46 PM
testing
Posted by: doug | July 1, 2005 03:14 PM
I am optimistic that most of such infrastructure issues will be addressed with the signing of the P-TOMS (Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure) between the rebels and the government (signed a few days ago). The $3 billion that sri lanka received will now be used to construct houses, hospitals, roads, schools and improve satitation and such for the betterment of the victims of the tsunami.
Posted by: IDS | July 2, 2005 12:52 AM
cleaning of the sewers has started again. but not by the German team.
more on that later
Posted by: Sascha Gerbracht | July 17, 2005 05:27 AM
this blog should be upated!
Posted by: ADS | July 28, 2005 10:54 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
It just goes to show you that throwing money at something sometimes doesn't fix anything....in fact, sometimes it doesn't fix crap (literally).