Work on several irrigation projects expedited

WALTER LIYANARACHCHI

Work on several major irrigation projects have been expedited on instructions of Ports, Irrigation and Water Management Minister Chamal Rajapaksa.

The Rambukkan Oya reservoir in Maha Oya in the Ampara district with an estimated cost of Rs. 2,500 million when completed in 2010 will help irrigate 3,500 acres of paddy land and provide drinking water to a large number of households.

On completion the reservoir will be able to eliminate poverty to a great extent since many income generating avenues associated with the reservoir will be opened, Irrigation Department Deputy Director (mega Projects) Nihal Siriwardene said.

The capacity of the reservoir will be 55 million cubic feet, length 4.75 km and the height is 81 feet. Rs. 340 million is allocated and 20 percent of the work is now completed, he said.

The investment will be directly from the Government coffers and the expertise will be from local engineers, he said. He also said the work on Deduru Oya Project is to be completed with an estimated cost of Rs. 6,200 million and Rs. 425 million has already allocated for this year and 20 percent of the work is completed. He also said that by way of land acquisition the Government had to spend Rs. 260 million.

It has projected to construct a power sub station to add 1.5 mega watts to the national grid.

At the completion of work 25,000 farmers and many others will be benefitted, he said.