Gemidiriya links isolated villages
Gamini WARUSHAMANA
The Government will launch a new development program to interconnect
isolated villages in the rural sector and pockets in the estate sector
today.
The first infrastructure sub project will be launched today in
Passara in the Badulla district. Under the project Akiriya bridge and 10
km long road will be constructed opening a new access road to
Meegahakiula for the people in Pitamaruwa, Roberiya, Madolsima,
Metigahatenna, Meegolla and Morahela villages. Over 3,500 families will
benefit from the project, said District Team Leader of the Gemidiriya
project Mahinda Rathnayake.
The total cost of the project is Rs. 35 million and Gemidiriya will
provide Rs.29 million. In this program too the Gemidiriya principles are
applied and the community may contribute the rest of the cost by labour.
The construction work of the project is done by the local government
authority (Pradeshiya Sabha) and the construction work is managed by a
sub project committee with 70 percent participation of the beneficiaries
and 30 percent of the people’s representatives of the Pradeshiya Sabha,
Rathnayake said.
Though these villages belong to the Meegahakiula Divisional
Secretariat Division they don’t have proper access roads to reach
Meegahakiula. To reach Meegahakiula they have to travel over 50 kms via
Passara and Badulla.
The people have faced serious socio economic issues due to transport
difficulties. This inter connectivity development program is part of the
second phase of the Gemidiriya rural development and livelihood
improvement project funded by the World Bank.
The World Bank has provided US$ 90 million for the second phase of
the Gemidiriya project.
The inter connectivity program focuses on building infrastructure
such as roads and bridges to connect villages and large-scale water
supply and irrigation projects covering several villages.
Gemidiriya project phase-I that covered 1,030 villages focused on
internal development of the villages. It covered infrastructure,
capacity building and livelihood development aspects.
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Pilot project
The pilot project of the Gemidiriya Inter Village Development Program
will be launched in Passara, Siyambalanduwa, Angunakola Pelessa and
Kuruwita Divisional Secretariat Divisions with Rs. 200 million
investment
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