Ownership of Water supply and drainage projects under NWSDB to be changed?

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwrdana

Colombo, July 22 (Daily Mirror) - Ownership of water supply and drainage projects coming under the purview of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) and local bodies are to be changed under the proposed National Water Supply and Drainage Board Amendment Bill which was tabled in Parliament yesterday.

Section 16 of the Bill provides provisions for the NWSDB to take over and carry on any water supply and sewerage undertaking of a local authority, industrial estate, industrial park or community based organisations transferred to the Board by a voluntary transfer order or a compulsory transfer.

Section 17 of the Bill provides provision to the Board to enter into agreements with any person to obtain water from the surface and ground water resources, to engage in activities related to surface and ground water resource development and maintenance of water supply and sewerage services in collaboration with a government department , a person or anybody approved by the subject minister, to set up a subsidiary organisation or a strategic business unit under the provisions of the Companies Act No 7 of 2007 which may in the opinion of the Water Resources Board directly or indirectly promote the interests or be conducive to the attainment of the objects of the Board.

The legislature further makes provisions to take legal action against any party for injury done to the Water Resources Board property and the right to recover the value of any water wasted, misused or unduly consumed.