Archives

by Ranil Wijayapala

A sea water desalination plant is to be set up in the Hambantota district to provide drinking water for people as an immediate measure to face the extending drought situation in the district.

The Steering Committee headed by Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Development Minister Mahinda Rajapakse overseeing the drought relief distribution is now mobilising the donor agencies, NGOs and Government Institutions to implement this proposal soon.

Coordinator to the Steering Committee Dr. Sunimal Fernando told the Daily News yesterday, Minister Rajapakse has included the setting up of ten sea water desalination plants under the five long term projects proposed to face future drought situation in the district.

He said that the Minister has observed the possibility of importing of the sea water desalination plant from Singapore or Maldives.

The Minister in his proposal has pointed out that 10 sea water desalination plants each with the capacity of producing 100,000 litres of drinking water can solve the drinking water problem in the district as it require only one million litres of water a day.

Dr. Fernando said that the installation of 10 desalination plants will roughly cost around 1.25 million US dollars. These desalination plants can produce salt and electricity as its byproducts and it will reduce the cost on the plants.

He said the Steering Committee headed by Minister Rajapakse has also proposed four other projects to face future drought situations in Hambantota district.

The project proposals include diversion of Uma Oya from Uva to Hambantota, diversion of Kalu ganga from Sabaragamuwa to Hambantota, the diversion of Nilvala ganga to Hambantota after diverting Gin Ganga to Nilvala ganga and the pumping of water from Walawe ganga to Hambantota.

The feasibility study for the pipe borne water from Walawe ganga to Hambantota is now in the implementation stage, he added.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager