Work on Menik Ganga project begins on June 6
 

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The Government will ceremonially commence the construction work on the Menik Ganga Project on June 6. This is the largest ever irrigation scheme initiated in the country within the last two decades to revive the National Agricultural Economy by strengthening farmer community.

The project estimated to cost Rs. 1822 million will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse at the Lunugamvehera Mulgal Junction in Hambantota district on June 6 at 10.00 am.

Under the Menik Ganga Project, a reservoir will be erected in Veheragala by damming the Menik Ganga. This Veheragala reservoir will have the capacity of 60,000 acre feet of water, Agriculture, Livestock and Lands Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake told a media briefing yesterday.

As a special feature, five small tanks will be constructed within the Yala National Park to provide water to animals through Veheragala reservoir. At present the animals in the Yala National Park have to face a severe water problem during the drought seasons, he said.

Of the total estimated cost of Rs. 1822 million, the Government has already allocated Rs. 170 million to commence the construction of the project. Also Rs. 284 million has been reserved to minimise the environmental hazards. The Ministry has already formulated plans to complete the project within two years with the full consultation of local engineers which had earlier planned to complete the project within four years.

Dissanayake said the entire agriculture sector mainly depends on the country's irrigation network. Therefore the United People's Freedom Alliance Government once it came to power took immediate measures to the renovate country's small and medium irrigation network under its Dahasak Maha Wev project.

Under the first phase of this project, the Government was able to renovate 940 tanks last year. The Government has allocated Rs. 765 million to renovate 1,500 tanks during this year.