Huruluwewa water for Padaviya and Welioya

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Add. District group correspondent

ANURADHAPURA: An alternative irrigation system to Moragahakanda reservoir scheme to provide sufficient water facilities for Padaviya and Welioya was initiated on September 6 at Kahatagasdigiliya.

Under this scheme, an abandoned canal built during the regime of King Aghbo is being rehabilitated and renovated to bring water from Huruluwewa tank via Kebithigollewa, Ulpothagama and Kahatagasdigiliya to Padaviya.

The water flowing along the canal will feed 15 other tanks enroute to Padaviya and provide up to Welioya via Kivule Ela.

Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake addressing the large gathering at the inauguration ceremony said that efforts were made to find out the ancient ruins of the canal as there was a public agitation in Padaviya that they would be denied any water from the proposed Moragahakanda Reservoir project though they were promised water facilities from the reservoir.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa was positive the new venture would solve the long felt need of the farmers in Padaviya and the suburbs. The Chief Minister revealed that the heavy machinery and equipment belonging to the PC, NCP would be utilised for the reconstruction of the canal which is about 20 kilometres.

Minister of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development S. M Chandrasena said that even during the time of late Maithripala Senanayake, the then Minister of Power, Irrigation and Highways schemes were proposed , research was done and feasibility reports were made to provide adequate water to Padaviya and all were futile.

The Minister promised that all possible assistance under the Jathika Saviya and Gama Neguma projects will be extended for the accelerated implementation of the new irrigation scheme which would make the dream of the farmers in Padaviya for more water facilities, a reality.

He said that ultimately once the whole project has been completed the irrigation network will be linked to that of Moragahakanda creating a massive fertile zone of farmlands.

K. H. Nandasena, the Chairman of the PC, NCP spoke.