A Proposal to introduce Water Policy using Water Management in Major Scale Irrigation Projects as a launching ground
By Mahinda Panapitiya
There are three basic problems that hinder sustainable development in Sri Lanka. The first problem is the problem of water shortages. From a Sri Lankan standpoint, reason for the primary problem of water shortages is because 60%-80% of rain water is washed off into the ocean, along with sediments and nutrients, before used by humans. The entire Mahaweli project was dedicated to solve this issue in the Dry Zone. The second problem is the problem of unmitigated flooding. Flooding in the wet zone is the result of the first problem, where the storm runoff does not quietly enter the ocean, but flash flooding on its way. The third problem is the pollution of water sources especially in urban areas and lack of water retaining capacities in the landscape because of unplanned land use practices causing drinking water shortages even in wet zones during drought periods. All the water in all the major rivers is polluted beyond belief. Water is a natural resource that belongs to everyone. Solution above 3 major problems can fundamentally improve the nation’s prosperity for the benefit of its citizens. The answer to this question has been the key to success in many of the developed countries.
The government is the custodian. The main user in the water sector is the environment without which even animals cannot live. A good water policy document demonstrates the ways the government can intervene on behalf of all its citizens as custodian. Any water policy document should describe ways to protect water resource for the benefit of the public and the environment. That document should also point out responsible parties for various tasks, and resources available to fulfil these tasks, describe the methods of execution, enforcement, and funding, how to promote the new idea for the public to agree. Also it is worth to note present Corona crisis is also a blessing in disguise for this task because people become open mind towards new ideas at least to pay attention.
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A Proposal to introduce Water Policy using Water Management in Major Scale_Annex 2