Gin Ganga project bags three Awards

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

AWARD: The salinity barrier across the Gin Ganga under the Greater Galle Water Supply Project became the best project and bagged three trophies at the Holcim Lanka Award 2006 held at the BMICH on Friday.

The vision shared was an efficient water supply service delivering good quality drinking water and a safe footpath across the Gin Ganga for the local community and the project improved the living conditions of some 2,000,000 people in the Galle District.

By constructing a sanitary barrier across Gin Ganga, this project solved the sanitary problem associated with the drinking water supplied to the Galle District Mayuri Wijesundara presenting the citation said.

It also enhanced the water supply service in the district. The team stood up together in the face of enormous challenges, ranging from hash ground conditions to severe floods and the tsunami devastation she said.

The project's benefits to communities were not confined to providing good quality drinking water. During its three year contract period, it provided employment for the local communities and gave priority to local resources, extending a helping hand to boost the economy of nearby villages.

The two bridges built across the river have shortened the walking distances by as much as ten kilo metres, offering relief specially for schoolchildren.

The project also has engaged the environment and minimised consumption of natural resources by using reusable formwork systems and prevention of further erosion of the river bed.