Tank renovation helped ease water shortage

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The national programme implemented by the Government to renovate derelict tanks and anicuts has achieved so many positive results by enabling farmers to overcome the acute shortage of water.

During a progressive review meeting held under the patronage of Deputy Agriculture Minister A.P. Jagath Pushpakumara with irrigation officials last week, it was revealed that the tank rehabilitation project has already shown over 80 per cent progress in many districts, an Agriculture Ministry spokesman told the Daily News.

Except the Trincomalee district, the project has achieved steady progress in all other districts. Despite various shortcomings the Government's tank renovation project is being successfully implemented even in Jaffna, Ampara, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Kilinochchi districts.

This is because most of these districts were severely affected by last year's tsunami. As a result there was a severe shortage of machinery and equipment in these districts, he said. However, officials and farmers in these tsunami affected districts have effectively contributed their labour to implement this national programme in their districts, he said.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Jagath Pushpakumara told officials that the renovation of tanks and anicuts is a national programme implemented on the financial allocations of the Agriculture Ministry to revive and reawaken the country's glorious irrigation network by renovating all derelict tanks.

Following a request made by officials on the lack of funds to the Irrigation Department to implement this project, the Deputy Minister instructed the Ministry officials to immediately release another Rs.100 million to the Irrigation Department, the spokesman said.

Pushpakumara also told officials that certain attempts are being made to sabotage the tank rehabilitation project. In order to avoid such difficulties, the Deputy Minister instructed officials to join hands with Samurdhi brigades in such areas.