Army keeping people’s wells is a crime: CM, in the Disaster Management meeting

“I feel that it should be recommended to grant compensation to farmers affected by the drought and the fishermen who were affected by the drying up of lagoons. While we experience a shortage in drinking water, it is a crime that, the Army is keeping the wells of people under their control. If it is not  a crime, definitely it is a sin.” , the NPC CM, C.V.Wigneswaran.

He said so in expressing his views in the meeting of the Coordinating Committee of Ministry of Disaster Management which was held District Secretariat, Jaffna.

Elaborating further he said, ” We need around 20 water bowsers of 12,500 litre capacity each are needed urgently to face off the prolonging drought. Bowsers on lorries are suitable for our areas. We need at leaset 500 water tanks along with their stands for providing water to people affected by drought.

The Public Wells occupied by the Army should be handed over to the Pradeshiya Sabais. When the people are urgently in need of water, the Army keeping the Public Wells is a crime. If it is not, it is a sin. I am calling for the reduction of the Army, because our inadequate resources are also shared to the Army. It is also an urgent need to renovate many wells and water tanks in the North. After renovating the wells and deepening the will help to save water for use by the people. Rain water saving tank mechanism and Mechanism for carrying excess water from one tank to another tank should be established.”, he said.