Moragahakanda - Kalu Ganga project:

Mega reservoir scheme on target

Ishara Mudugamuwa

The Mahaweli Ganga Development Program is a multi-purpose project ever undertaken in Sri Lanka, based on the water resources of Mahaweli and allied six river basins. It aims at creating more jobs, increasing agricultural production and hydro-power generation, preventing floods and providing relief to the landless people.

The Moragahakanda-Kalu Ganga scheme is one of the largest construction projects under the Mahaweli Development Program.

The project is successfully achieving its target

This project is expected to completely address the irrigation needs of the people in Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Trincomalee and Matale districts and will provide drinking water for all living in these districts.

The Moragahakanda - Kalu Ganga Reservoir Project, launched two years ago by President Mahinda Rajapaksa fulfilled yet another expectation of the people under the Mahinda Chinthana and aims to solve the pressing problem of insufficient irrigable water in the North Central Province.

It is successfully achieving its target under the able guidance of Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena. The project area is located in the Laggala in Matale District in the Central Province.

It also extends to some parts in the North Central Province.

Among the most important construction work carried out so far in this project is the building of the Kumbiyangahaela-Elahera road, which partly encircles the Moragahakanda reservoir.

Basic construction work has now been completed and the Mahaweli Authority hopes to complete the project within another six years’ time.

A hydro-power station with a capacity of 20 MW will be set up under the Moragahakanda reservoir project. Basic constructions work has already been completed at a cost of Rs.1,800 million. All housing plans are also finished and more than 1,572 families from Moragahakanda and 663 families from Kalu Ganga will be resettled in new Mahaweli villages.

These villages have all the infrastructure facilities, including roads, drinking water, electricity, hospitals and schools etc.

“The total estimated cost for the project is about Rs 63,536 million (US$ 557 million) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), Saudi Fund for Development and Kuwait Fund have agreed to fund this project,” said Minister Maithripala Sirisena.

The Moragahakanda-Kalu Ganga scheme is one of the largest construction projects under the Mahaweli Development Program.

JICA agreed to provide funds for the construction of Moragahakanda reservoir and OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), Saudi Fund for Development and Kuwait Fund are providing funds for the construction of Kalu Ganga reservoir.

“All foreign funds for Moragahakanda - Kalu Ganga project will be received definitely before the end of this year,” he said.

“Kuwait Fund has already provided Kuwait dinar 10 million (US$ 37 million) for the construction of this project. The Government hopes to spend Rs 63,536 million (US$ 557 million) for this project,” said the Minister.

Besides the North Central Province, he said the Moragahakanda project will benefit the adjoining Central and Eastern Provinces.

“This is a 99 percent agriculture oriented project. Farmers in the NCP will be able to cultivate paddy for three seasons after its completion,” Minist

er Sirisena said.

“This will be the last mega reservoir under the Mahaweli Development Program,” he said.