Janashakthi pledges ‘Jala’shakthi

In a bid to safeguard Sri Lanka’s fresh water sources, Janashakthi Insurance has stepped forward to fund the Ma Oya river catchment conservation project and have chosen Lanka Jalani – the Sri Lanka Water Partnership (SLWP) – as program advisers to administer a first of its kind water quality assessment project to be conducted by the Colombo University.

The study, ‘Water Quality Distribution and its Impact on Community Livelihood Development in Upper Catchment of the Maha Oya River Basin,’ is led by Dr. Ranjana U.K. Piyadasa.

In a recently held inaugural event Janashkthi and Lanka Jalani conducted a series of activities to breathe life into the program and spread awareness amongst the communities living in the Ma Oya catchment area in Rahalla, Aranayake.

Speaking at the occasion Shehara De Silva, General Manager Sales and Marketing, Janashakthi said: “Ehen it comes to conserving our natural resources, all of us starting from young children to big corporations and the government should bear responsibility. That is why as a responsible corporate entity we are engaged in the Ma Oya catchment conservation project in this watershed Public private partnership. Providing adequate amounts of drinking water of an acceptable quality is a basic necessity to ensuring the sustainable, long-term supply of drinking water which also has national and international concern. We are harnessing the expertise of our local university to monitor and track the issue as its impacts will touch the lives of nearly two million people if the learnings are applied by Government and the people of the area. It is an honour to Kusum Athukorala, she represents the face of responsible womankind – nurturing, protective and accountable and is a global brand name in this field often referred to as the world water lady.”

Dr. Piyadasa contextualising the need said: “Groundwater represents an important source of drinking water and its quality is currently threatened by a combination of over-abstraction and chemical (including nitrate and pesticides) and microbiological contamination due to poor sanitary management. Groundwater resources in Sri Lanka are limited, as 90% of the landscape is underlain by poor yielding Crystalline Precambrian metamorphic rock formations. Intense agricultural and urban development has placed a high demand on ground-water resources in urban areas worldwide and has also placed these resources at greater risk to contamination.

The present research study is planned to evaluate the groundwater distribution and pollution by agriculture practices and river sand mining in upper catchment of the Maha river basin in Kegalle District. Results from this investigation fill an important need in assessing the water quality characteristics of shallow ground water in organic-rich urban plain environments and linking these characteristics to its effect on contaminant occurrence.

Findings from this investigation improve the knowledge of the quality of shallow ground water in catchment environments and improve assessments of the risk of contamination of ground water in this critical setting. The work will include documentation of the groundwater resources, hydro-geological conditions of the area and understanding the factors that are important in surface and groundwater management,

In the proposed study all the tube wells and, selected shallow open dug wells scattered in upper catchments will be selected for the surface and groundwater monitoring program. Wells will be selected considering the landscape pattern and relief to be representative for the area. Sampling of water from the selected dug wells and surface water will be conducted at monthly intervals during the entire period of research which helps to monitor the quality and aquifer hydrology during dry and wet seasons as well.

The program commenced at the Rahalla West Junior School with a meeting of school children, parents, teachers, environmental authorities, and the general public of the area. Kusum Athukorala, Chair, Sri Lanka water partnership and Dr. Ranjana U.K. Piyadasa of University of Colombo were also present at the meeting. Three schools in the Rahalla area received grants to start herb gardens while a number of environmental experts and Government officials discussed the problems and solutions with regard to catchment conservation.

Addressing the gathering, Kusum Athukorala said: “Water is one of the most precious natural resources that Sri Lanka had in abundance. However, due to negligence and lack of awareness we continue to pollute this resource ironically endangering our own survival in the process. There is a dire need to protect fresh water sources throughout the island, especially the river catchments and spread awareness amongst the general public and sensitize them to the relevant issues. Ma Oya catchment conservation is one such project that we started with this aim in mind. We are grateful to Janashakthi for their invaluable support.” The Jalashakthi commitment on Ma Oya research will help: Identify the groundwater regime and hydro-geological conditions that influence to the groundwater recharge, storage and withdrawal  Study surface water and groundwater quality with respect to inorganic and organic materials and microbial contamination using standard parameters for drinking water, for domestic usage and for agricultural usage.

Study the chemical and physical characteristics of the soil in the surrounding area and conduct a complete chemical analysis of those soils.  Study the community development through water management experience.

“It’s a big idea but one much needed. We wanted to do something of lasting legacy to help the water issue in a national initiative. We are proud to do our bit we are proud to think we can make a difference to the health and safety of perhaps two million people as an outcome of this,” Prakash Schaffter, Managing Director, Janashakthi added.

Following the meeting, a team from the University of Colombo led by Dr. Piyadasa, members of the media, the local Registrar and Basnayake Nilame Gamini Atampawala officially commenced the Ma Oya river water quality study which will help determine the exact level of pollution and the contributory factors. In conclusion the Rahalla villagers received arecanut plants to grow along the banks of the Ma Oya. These plants will serve the dual purpose of reducing soil erosion of the river bank and allowing the villagers to obtain an additional income by selling arecanut.