60,000 hectares of farmlands to be irrigated in NCP

CHAMIKARA WEERASINGHE

The Government has launched a large-scale irrigation project in the North Central Province to irrigate 60,000 hectares of farmlands along the banks of Huruluwewa canal in Anuradhapura whose water course will be extended up to the Padaviya Divisional Region.

The Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Development will allocate Rs. 10 million for the project, sources at the Nation Building Ministry said. The project was launched by the Ministry of Nation Building and North Central Provincial Council on the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Minister of Nation Building S. M. Chandrasena and the Chief Minister of North Central Province Berty Premalal launched the project last week at the Galkandegama Purana Yodha Ela village of the Kahatagasdigiliya Divisional Secretariat. Provincial Ministers Gamage Weerasena and K. H. Nandasena were present.

The project has been designed to supply water to the farmlands in the Huruluwewa, Galenbindunuwewa, Kahatagasdigiliya, Medawachchiya, Kebithigollewa, Padaviya and Rambana Divisional Secretariats for the development of agriculture in them.

The new irrigation network will nurture over 100 minor canals in the respective areas, according to the project plan.

The Huruluwewa canal will be extended by 65 kilometres under the project, sources said.