Construction equipment donated to RRR ministry

The Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation has received Rs. 380 Million worth of heavy machineries from the Italian Civil protection Department of the Office of the President of the Council of Ministers of Italy for the implementation of Relief and Rehabilitation activities in the North, East and South Provinces.

The consignment includes 2 road rollers, 4 lorry mounted gully emptiers, 2 backhoe loaders, 2 crawler tractors, 1 motor graders, 3 tipping lorries, 3 tippers, 3 tones lorries, 2 trucks mounted bowsers. Nos. 2, 5,000 litre water bowsers, 2 wheel loaders and 12 crew cabs.

The Ministry had drafted an action plan jointly with the Italian Civil Protection Department in the utilization and the management of the machineries and vehicles and would jointly monitor the implementation activities.

The items of equipment which are identified for road construction and rehabilitation work will be handed over to the Director of the Road Development Department and will be utilized for the large programme of rehabilitation of tsunami affected roads.

Gully emptiers and water bowsers are required mainly for work and resettled enclaves.

They will be utilized by the Water Supply & Drainage Board or by local authority or by the Divisional Secretary in charge of new settlement.

The first consignment of vehicles was handed over to the Ministry by the Italian Civil Protection Department recently.

Hon. D.M. Dassnayake, Deputy Minister of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation, M.S. Jayasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation, His Excellency Massimo Darchini, Acting Ambassador for Italy, Dr. Vincenzo Spazinate, Deputy Head of Italian Civil Protection Department participated at the event.