Deduru Oya project on high gear

CHAMINDA PERERA

The construction of the Deduru Oya irrigation project which could bring over 30,000 acres of land under the plough has been expedited to revive the farmers in the Kurunegala and Puttalam districts who have been suffering from a lack of water for their cultivations. It is envisaged that another 1500 acres of land could be cultivated utilising the drift irrigation system under this project.

This mega irrigation project estimated to cost Rs. 6200 million will add 2.5 MW electricity to the National Grid and is expected to be completed by 2010. . Drinking water facilities to the people in the Puttalam district and villages adjacent to the Iginimitiya reservoir will also be provided under this project. A dam is now being constructed across the Deduru Oya at Thummodara where it meets three other canals namely the Kibulwana Oya, Maguru Oya and Hakwana Oya.

According to Co Project Director Sunil Perera the Irrigation Department has been tasked to design and handle the project utilising local man power and expertise.

"We have not sought any foreign expertise for this project. It is our engineers who design and handle this project. Over 15% of the construction work has now been completed," Perera said.

Perera said the families affected by the project would be compensated gradually. "The affected families can either seek compensation from the Government or a suitable land in some other areas," he said.

"We have planned to provide either compensation or a plot of land for the families who would be affected by the project. Over 70 families out of 900 have been resettled on lands under the Radevi Bedi Ella irrigation project and they have been provided all infrastructure facilities such as electricity and pipe-borne water. Another 60 families will soon be resettled in Thelahera farm, he said.

He said the right canal of the reservoir which is 33 Km in length brings water to the Iginimitiya reservoir. The construction of the canal has also commenced. This will be the first trans basin canal in the Wayamba Province, Perera said.

He said the left canal of the reservoir will also provide water to over 27 small tanks in the district.

He said over 5 lakhs of people in the North Western Province will benefit by the project which is funded entirely by the Government.