Reports that the devastating flooding in Kilinochchi was due to negligence are to be investigated by a three member committee, following complaints from residents that Iranamadu tank was allowed to overfill before the all sluice gates were opened at once.
Locals had criticised government officials for allowing such a situation, pointing out that the damage was caused by the large body of water had been allowed out at one time, and that residents were not warned the gates were to be opened.
"When the area was under LTTE control, they would send a man to Mankulam with a walkie-talkie,” he recalled. “If the flood level was increasing in the Mankulam area, he would inform those at the Iranamadu tank. Then they would open the gates one by one," the Sunday Times quoted a retired irrigation engineer as saying.
The committee, set up by the Northern Province governor, is to be headed by Professor S Sivakamar of the University of Jaffna's Engineering Faculty, and will including the deputy chief secretary of engineering services in the Northern Province, S Shanmugananthan and the provincial director of agriculture, S Sivakumar.
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