Over 400,000 to benefit from Kalu Ganga water scheme

KALUTARA: The newly constructed Kalu Ganga Water Supply Scheme - Phase I, funded by the Japanese Government was commissioned and handed over to the people at a ceremony on October 13 in the presence of Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka, Minister of Urban Development and Water Supply Dinesh Gunawardena, Deputy Minister of Education Nirmala Kotalawala and Japanese Ambassador Kiyoshi Araki.

This project has been constructed under the Official Development Assistance (ODA) of the Japanese Government at Yen 11,278 million (approximately Rs. 10,394 million).

The funds were utilised for the construction of an intake and a treatment plant, a concrete tank with a capacity of 15,000 m3 together with all other facilities such as installation of pumps, water transmission and distribution pipelines etc. to secure the water capacity of 60,000 m3/day (13.2 million gallons/day) to meet the needs of the people in Horana, Bandaragama, Panadura, Moratuwa and the surrounding areas.

The project was implemented by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWS&DB) in collaboration with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

The Kalu Ganga water Supply Scheme will provide an uninterrupted supply of hygienically clean pipe borne water to over 400,000 consumers and another 100,000 consumers through provision of 20,000 new connections.

The Japanese Government has provided development assistance amounting to over Rs. 24 billion in the form of Grants and Yen Loans over the past few years for the construction and extension of water supply systems in different regions.