WB helps to irrigate Mannar

Anura MAITIPE

The irrigation re-awakening project with the World Bank assistance of Rs.385 million has taken initiatives to rehabilitate Giants Tank, one of the major irrigation tanks in the Mannar district, Project Director P.H. Sugathadasa said at a progress review meeting at the site last week.

He said this tank has a capacity of 31,500 acre feet of water and provides irrigation facilities to over 30,000 acres in the area. In addition, it channels water to over 162 small tanks in the area. The catchment area of this tank has been reduced due to poor condition of the tank bunt and its distribution canal network.

The rehabilitation work of this project was delayed due to the conflict in the area during the past few years. However, the construction work is now in progress. The re-awakening project has taken initiatives to renovate the tank bunt and the main canals of the tank.

The project is scheduled to be completed in 2010. With the completion of the project, it will provide irrigation facilities to over 30,000 acres of paddy lands benefiting nearly 6,550 farmer families, he added.