JICA extends support to improve reliability of Beruwala water supply system

Monday, 30 July 2018 01:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

With the aim of upgrading and improving the water supply to the surrounding towns in the Beruwela area, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) extended assistance to construct a Pre-Stressed Concrete Tank (PC Tank), which was ceremonially declared opened recently.

The tank was inaugurated by Rauff Hakeem - Minister City Planning and Water Supply and Kenichi Suganuma - Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka and Rajitha Senaratne - Minister of Health and Indigenous Medicine also graced this occasion. Also present at the occasion were Fusato Tanaka - Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka Office; D.G.M.V. Hapuarachchi - Secretary to Ministry of City Planning and Water Supply (MCPWS); K.A. Ansar - Chairman, National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB); Deepthi Sumanasekara - General Manager NWSDB and officials of the Ministry of City Planning and Water Supply and the National Water Supply and Drainage Board.

JICA supported the construction of this PC Tank at Beruwala by leading Japanese private company Abe Nikko Kogyo Ltd. The company’s rich experience, unique technologies, and proven track record in the construction of over 5,000 PC Tanks in Japan has earned it a high reputation.

Abe Nikko Kogyo Ltd. understands that a reliable water supply system is indispensable in maintaining and enhancing social infrastructure. Abe Nikko Kogyo Ltd. had developed the technology of PC tanks in 1957 and the company is the pioneer of PC tanks and currently has a 60% share of PC tanks constructed in Japan.

The company employs air-dome technology for the construction of the PC tank. The advantages of the PC tank include the air dome technology which ensures a safe and speedy construction as well as being extremely durable, less prone to cracks and leakages, reduced costs and concrete with minimum rebar. Additionally, the PC tank can be constructed on a small plot of land as the height of the tank is not a limiting factor.

Utilising Sri Lankan Government funding, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board has also implemented the project component that is the upgrading of transmission mains from the Kethhena Water Treatment Plant and upgrading of pump houses in Beruwala and Darga Town in parallel with the PC tank construction.

These interventions have now improved the service level of over 40,000 existing water supply connections by ensuring a reliable 24-hour supply. Additionally, these interventions also enable another 20,000 new water supply connections in both Beruwala and Darga town area. At the occasion, JICA Chief Representative Fusato Tanaka stated: “JICA is extremely pleased to extend its fullest support and join hands with Sri Lanka’s economic development agenda, especially in needy areas, to improve the quality of life.”