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| Saturday, 7 August 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| Rs.500 m allocated for first 1,000 tanks: Govt to re-build 10,000 tanks by Uditha Kumarasinghe The first phase of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Government's ambitious "Dahasak Maha Wev project' (Thousand Tanks) for the renovation all derelict tanks throughout the country will commence targeting 1,000 selected tanks with the ceremonial inauguration of the work of the Havanpelessa weva in Yapahuwa on August 19. The 1,000 tanks project is designed to revive and rehabilitate 10,000 tanks throughout the country during the next four years. Of this total, 1000 tanks will be renovated during 2004, Agriculture, Lands and Irrigation Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake told a media briefing at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute yesterday. The Government has allocated Rs.500 million to renovate these 1,000 tanks during this year. Private sector donors, public servants, professionals and the public have extended their fullest co-operation to make this project a success, he said. The Minister said each tank covers 20 acres and nearly 10 farmer families are dependant on a single tank. This project will benefit a large number of farmer families. A total of 300,000 families will be benefitted with the completion of the entire project to rehabilitate 10,000 tanks during the next four years. "We appeal to all Sri Lankans to participate in this nation building exercise and show your commitment to the nation by contributing financially to build a selected tank." Dissanayake said his Ministry has already selected tanks to be renovated at district level and prepared estimates for each tank. The Ministry in collaboration with farmers have set up a tank society to successfully conduct the renovation activities. In order to educate the public on this project, the Ministry will shortly open a new website. The Minister vowed that this national project will not be a political exercise but which goes far beyond this objective. Their sole intention is to re-build the socio-economic fabric which is mainly based on the country's irrigation network. The tanks will provide water for irrigation and enhance the living conditions of communities. This will no doubt will cause an awakening among all Sri Lankans. During the past 30 years, attention was focused on large scale irrigation projects rather than small and medium scale ones. Nearly 800 tanks were reclaimed in order to set up these large scale irrigation schemes. "Therefore, the sole intention of this Government is to give due recognition to the country's hydro civilisation which is mainly dependent on the tanks and uplift the rural economy." The Minister said: "The bond between the people and the tanks grew through the generations in various ways. Other than for economic dependence, the tank provided a reason for the people as a community to unite to first build the weva and then protect it. The Sri Lankan culture and most of our literary works have been built around the country's irrigation network." After centuries, engineers throughout the world still remain awed by the sheer engineering and structural mastery of tank building by the ancient rulers and people of this land. Dissanayake said: "The year 2004 marks a new beginning for this nation. There is a call to rally forth as one nation to revive what we have lost. A nation united to rebuild a civilization embracing the rich irrigation network unique to our island nation, unique to the people we proudly call Sri Lankans." |
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