China funded flood water tunnel under Colombo

COLOMBO (News1st): A rainwater management project in Colombo has got underway after the construction of a tunnel as part of the initiative. Construction of the 760-metre long Mutwal Tunnel that runs into the sea to the north of the Mutwal Fisheries Harbour had been completed recently. A second tunnel, that would run into the Bambalapitiya sea, is to be constructed with a length of 1.1 kilometres. The project, estimated to cost Rs 5.2 billion, will see China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Company serving as the contractor. Although such projects are welcomed, there are certain matters that need to be taken into consideration. The first is the absence of a proper mechanism to drain rainwater although there are several canals in the Colombo City since ancient times. The second is whether large amounts of rainwater must be allowed to flow into the sea without being used for any purpose.