Uma Oya digging equipment incapable of strengthening tunnel wall – Norwegian expert

Submitting an interim report to President Maithripala Sirisena on the Uma Oya Multi-purpose Development Project, Norwegian expert Bent Aagaard said that preliminary studies had not forecast the possibility of large water seepage in the tunnel. 

According to a statement issued by the President’s Media Unit, Aagaard has noted in his report that the machinery used for the project had not been capable of strengthening the tunnel wall and sealing them with strong grout materials.

‘Excavation must be done by using suitable machinery on the tunnel wall and grouting all the leaks in the tunnel to ensure that there will be no seepage in the tunnel in the future,’ the President’s media release quoted Aagaard as saying, adding that the contractors had not been prepared for large scale water ingress in the tunnel.

Aagaard has advised that it would be necessary to get special grout materials and machinery before the remaining 4.5km of the tunnel is dug since a part of it is below residential areas.

“The expert was of the view that a better comprehensive preliminary study could have prevented the water ingress into the tunnel leading to a severe water dearth in some areas. President Sirisena requested the expert to provide a full report on how the leakage could be completely stopped and the reasons for not taking into the consideration the water leakage in the previous reports,” the statement said.

Following the handover of the interim report to the President at the President’s Official Residence in Colombo yesterday, the President said that it is regrettable that problems arose during the implementation of the Uma Oya Project, as the previous government had hurriedly commenced the project without proper study of the feasibility report and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

“Mistakes were made from the beginning and we are attempting to rectify them to ensure that the problems faced by the people are solved and there would not be any issues in the future,” the President said.

The President further said that such mega scale projects should not be undertaken without proper study He also said that the Uma Oya problem is a lesson for the future to avoid such mistakes. President Sirisena added that the Government plans to obtain expert advice prior to implementation of the next project in which a 22km long tunnel is to be constructed.

Secretary to the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment Udaya R. Seneviratne, the Project Director and the officials of the Norwegian Embassy also took part in the event.