Over Rs. 14m for projects in NWP

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional district group correspondent

The Government has embarked on several agricultural and irrigational development plans in North Western Province for the empowerment of the livelihood of the low-income group people in the province.

The three leading ventures among them are “Wari Pubuduwa” a joint programme by Japanese and Sri Lankan Government, the Dry Zone Livelihood Support and Partnership Programme funded by International Fund for Agriculture Development and the “Deduru Oya” project. The amount estimated for the completion of these projects is nearly Rs. 14,500 million.

The main objectives to be achieved through these projects are the supply of adequate water facilities to 500 large, medium and small tanks, the renovation and rehabilitation of 300 tanks and the introduction of lucrative self-employment ventures other than agriculture to generate extra income to the farmer families.

In addition to the 60 large and medium tanks located in Anuradhapura 40 tanks including main irrigation schemes such as Magalla, Palukaduwala, Atharagalla and Abakolawewa in Kurunegala district are being renovated and rehabilitated under ‘Wari Pubuduwa’ project. 50,000 acres will be provided with irrigational water and 25,000 farmer families will become direct beneficiaries once the project has been completed within the next two years.

The DZLISSP envisages to improve 1100 tanks and anicuts located in Anuradhapura, Moneragala, Badulla and Kurunegala districts in 1077 Grama Niladhari divisions.

In Kurunegala district alone 205 tanks with not more than 10 hectares of cultivable lands under each tank are expected to be renovated under the project.