Experts recommend close monitoring of Kandy tremors

By Ifham Nizam

The Expert Committee appointed to investigate the recent tremors in Kandy, has recommended that action be taken to monitor the tremors.

They have made this recommendation in their report handed over to the Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday. Ministry Secretary, Dr. Anil Jasinghe and Chairman GSMB Anura Walpola were also present.

Tremors were reported from Aluthwatte, Ambakote, Digana, Maialapitiya, Anuragama and Haragama areas in the Kandy District on 18 November. The government appointed a committee comprising Senior Seismologist Nilmini Thaldena, Senior Geologist Mahinda Seneviratne, Geologist Mahasen Wickramaratne, Seismologist Jayanath Herath, Seismologist Uthpala Ratnayake and trainee Seismologist Sachintha Weeranayake to conduct a study and make recommendations.

The report states that it is currently not possible to attribute the tremors to limestone quarrying, but further scientific research is needed.

Minister Amaraweera said that a comprehensive programme would be launched for the protection of not only Victoria Reservoir but also others reservoirs. The Minister said that the expert report has confirmed that the Victoria Reservoir dam had not been affected by the recent tremors.

The Expert Committee has made the following recommendations to be implemented immediately for the safety of the reservoirs and the public in the area.

1. A continuous long-term monitoring programme should be established as soon as possible as several tremors have occurred in the same region in a short period of time.

2. The structural rupture monitoring process, mainly related to dolomite mining in the Aluthwatta area, should also be taken into consideration.

3. Provide a format for recording incidents reported to selected persons in the area, mainly students. A team of geologists should be immediately empowered to compile a detailed geological /structural map. This survey is extended to re-evaluate the observations made during the strip survey with the required geological applications.

4. Take steps to activate the Accelerometer and seismograph with data connection to the Bureau’s National Data Centre, especially in the Victoria Dam reservoir structures.