Rs. 3,750 million to provide electricity for freed areas

Wasantha RAMANAYAKE

Rs.3,750 million has been allocated to provide electricity to newly liberated areas in the Northern Province under an infrastructure development program, a Power and Energy Ministry official said.

The official said funds will be used to construct transmission lines and grid substations destroyed by the terrorists.

Under this program, a new 132 kv power transmission line from Vavuniya to Chunnakkam will be constructed. The Japanese Bank for Economic Corporation will grant Rs. 3,650 million to construct of the 132 km line, the official said.

He said that another Rs. 700 million will be spent to upgrade the existing power distribution system including the existing grid substations.

According to ministry sources, the Treasury has allocated Rs. 5,250 million for 400 rural electrification schemes that would be completed during three years.