Two major irrigation projects for Hambantota
 

BY UDITHA Kumarasinghe

AGRICULTURE, Lands and Irrigation Ministry will shortly commence construction work on two major irrigation schemes, Veheragala and Kakiriobada providing a permanent solution to drinking water and irrigable water problem encountered by the people of Hambantota over the past few decades.

The Veheragala reservoir project estimated to cost Rs. 1,800 million will develop 14,000 hectares of land. Under the Veheragala project, a 75 million cubic meter reservoir will be erected by damming the Menik Ganga and diverting its water through a 20Km long canal to the Lunugamvehera reservoir, an Irrigation Ministry spokesman told the Daily News.

This will provide an opportunity to 4,000 farmer families to successfully conduct their cultivation activities who face severe hardships to conduct their cultivation activities due to the shortage of water.

Meanwhile, the Veheragala project will help increase the drinking water supply of Kataragama city and provide four million cubic meters water to the city annually. This will provide a lasting solution to the severe shortage of water problem in Kataragama during the pilgrim season.

The spokesman said over the past several years the Veheragala irrigation scheme was restricted only to plans. The environmental report on this project has been approved while the Government has already allocated Rs.170 million to commence the project.

Therefore, the Ministry intends to commence the Veheragala project within next month. The second project named Kakiriobada in Hambantota is estimated to cost Rs. 273 million.

This reservoir which has a capacity of 3.9 million cubic meters will be erected by damming the Kirama Oya in the Walasmulla Divisional Secretariat area. The project will help cultivate 151 hectares in the area benefitting 1,500 farmer families.

In addition, the Kakiriobada reservoir will provide drinking water to Tangalle, Walasmulla and Kirama towns. The money needed for this project has already been granted by the Government. The Japanese Government has also provided funds for this project. The construction work on this project started on April 22.

"These two projects have reached the implementation phase. It will help overcome the water problem in Hambantota to a large extent," he said.