Massive water supply project awarded to China

18 May 2013 01:56 am - 11 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) was awarded a US 229.5 million dollar contract for a massive water project funded by China to supply water to the Gampaha District.

It is a 100 percent Chinese funded project and it comes as a soft loan at two per cent interest to be paid for more than 22 years.

Water Supply and Drainage Ministry Secretary A.Abeygunasekara said the contract with the CMEC would be signed in the coming days.

The Ministry has identified that there is a growing water problem, especially in the quality of water in the Gampaha, Minuwangoda and Attanagalle areas. Most of the people use well water for day to day activities.

The CMEC will be responsible for all the design, sourcing, civil engineering, installation and commissioning work involved in the project. A total of 64 million US dollars will be given to the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWS & DB) for the distribution of water through by roads and alternative routes in the area. Another US 10 million dollars will be spent on the construction of a reservoir in the area.

He said that water would also be supplied from the Attanagalu Oya in the Gampaha-Kegalle border.

Based on the current schedule, the Project will last for 36 months from the date of commencement of the construction. Several purification stations will also be constructed by the Chinese company.

The Beijing-based state owned builder announced the project recently at a Hong Kong stock exchange filing.

The Ministry Secretary said the Gampaha District is below the 44 per cent national average for the use of pipe borne water recording just 30 per cent. However in areas such as Colombo and Kalutara, the percentage is over 50.

Mr. Abeygunasekara said a coastal project was carried out recently to upgrade the supply of water in Biyagama, Wattala and Kelaniya.

According to him the upgrading of sewerage systems and their construction was not part of the project. (SD)

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Comments - 11

Crow Saturday, 18 May 2013 04:00 AM

Is our Indian uncle Happy?

HiFarzan Saturday, 18 May 2013 04:10 AM

Receipt from China. Contract awarded to China. So payment to China. China is the gainer.

bada Saturday, 18 May 2013 04:20 AM

Although China has best technology,for gaining profit they use cheap technology in poor countries.That is what has happened in Norochcholai power plant.It means most of these projects will go on troubles in the long run.So God save us.Nothing else can expect.

unchikun Saturday, 18 May 2013 04:53 AM

more than Indians, Sri Lankans need to be worried. It is we who have to pay this loan back, not the Indians.

patum Saturday, 18 May 2013 10:03 AM

But we get the required water.

ken Saturday, 18 May 2013 02:33 PM

Who would you prefer to award this contract to make you happy? Have you even considered that the people living in Gampaha would also benefit?

Andrew Pitugala Sunday, 19 May 2013 02:47 AM

Let us all quickly learn the Chinese language. Very soon Srilanka will be a Province of China.

Fusion Sunday, 19 May 2013 08:00 AM

Well CMEC is not some average company. Its a large corporation. I'd expect much better quality than some of the other Chinese companies.

buruwa Sunday, 19 May 2013 08:20 AM

China doesn't have proper technology for such things.
Chinese Beijing has air pollution & they don't have techno;ogy to clean it (like Japan etc..). Many people who go there witness this condition. (asthma conditions etc...)

Coming back to Gampaha District , normal well water is clean enough to drink unlike salty water in coastal areas like Colombo or kalutara. Therefore even if these purification plants don't work at all , nobody will be able to find any fault of water coming out from this new massive project.

Asanka Sunday, 19 May 2013 10:02 AM

65% for the project and 35% for the family..

Abu Dhabi Sunday, 19 May 2013 02:25 PM

After completion the project water tariff will go high.....6

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Massive water supply project awarded to China

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