Amalgamation of Rugam and Kitulwewa tanks Vs Rambukana Oya Reservoir
Scheme
TWO TANKS: A tributary of the Maha Oya River, which flows in
close proximity between Rugam and Kitulwewa Tanks, irrigates about 8000
acres of rain fed paddy lands in Rugam, Kitul, Ilupadichenai,
Pankudaveli, Chenkalady, Vantharumoolai and Sittandi villages.
Investigations were conducted in 1940-45 and it was resolved to dam
the tributary of the Maha Oya River called Mavalai Aru by the local
farmers at a spot in between Rugam and Kitulwewa tanks and amalgamate
these two tanks to arrest the river flow and increase the capacity of
the two tanks to bring more lands under irrigated paddy.
While I was working at the Batticaloa Kachcheri, 2 Engineers came to
the Kachcheri in August 1970, met the then Government Agent, Mr. H. C.
Gunawardhana and informed him that there was a scheme to dam Rambukana
Oya, a tributary of Maha Oya River and construct the Rambukana Oya
Reservoir and inquired from the G.A. whether this would affect the
irrigation systems to the paddy lands in the Batticaloa District.
The G.A. called me and after getting certain information from me
about the paddy lands irrigated by the Maha Oya River, directed me to go
with the two Engineers to the Chenkaladi Irrigation Office and discuss
the matter with the I.E. Chenkaladi.
The I.E. Chenkaladi, referring to certain documents convinced the two
Engineers that the construction of the Rambukan Oya Reservoir upstream
would adversely affect the paddy lands of about 8000 acres unirrigable
by Rugam and Kitulwewa tanks.
The two Engineers, having been satisfied with the details given by
the Chenkaladi Irrigation Engineer, returned to the Kachcheri, met the
G.A. and told him that the Rambukana Oya Reservoir Scheme was being
abandoned.
Large scale cattle breeding and vegetable cultivation were undertaken
along the banks of another Maha Oya tributary, flowing southwards above
Rugam tank and before the Milk Board was established, all the milk was
converted into curd and daily 5 cart loads of curd-pots and 5 cart loads
of vegetable, lime and oranges were sent to Colombo by the train from
Eravur Railway station. Eighty percent of the population in the
Batticaloa district are farmers and they were very prosperous before
1980, but now they are all paupers.
The farmer is the backbone of the nation and there if he grows, the
harvest is for the Government. We have studied in Geography that certain
countries in the world are famous for certain products and the farmer is
responsible for bringing fame and reputation for those countries.
Ukraine is famous for wheat; Mexico is famous for coffee: Argentine
is famous for cattle: New Orleans is famous for cotton: Virginia is
famous for tobacco: If this amalgamation scheme of Rugam and Kitulwewa
Tanks comes up, the farmers will certainly bring fame to Sri Lanka and
to the Government by making Sri Lanka famous for rice, milk, honey,
fruits and vegetables.
Sir Henry Ford, manufacturer of Ford Motor Cars was then the richest
man in the world and he said that the man, who produces food is second
to God; and today, bringing the Batticaloa District farmers to that
status is in the hands of His Excellency the President in expediting the
amalgamation activities of the Rugam and Kitulwewa Tanks, where the soil
is rich and anything and everything thrives well.
The farmers of the Batticaloa District have been agitating for the
execution of this scheme for the last 40-50 years, but nothing happened.
S. VISVAIAH |
