President tells Irrigation and Water Resources Ministry Progress review meeting:

Protect environment when implementing projects

Chaminda PERERA

The Protection of environment should receive pride of place when development projects are being implemented, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

The President was speaking at the progress review meeting of the Irrigation and Water Resources Ministry at Temple Trees yesterday. President Rajapaksa added that the Ministry should expedite the provision of water to small tanks. He was of the opinion that the people should be educated on natural energy sources.

Officials were also instructed to expedite the rehabilitation of small tanks in the North Central Province.

He said the small tanks bordering the North and the East provinces in the Anuradhapura district were damaged due to terrorism and such tanks should receive officials' urgent attention.

He discussed the development projects being implemented by the Ministry and its future plans with subject Ministers and the senior Ministry officials.

It was disclosed at this meeting that the country makes use of only 35 percent of its natural water resources and plans are afoot to increase it to 40 percent within the next two years.

It was revealed at the meeting that the Ministry has drawn up plans to supply water for drinking, industrial and agricultural purposes while managing the water resources in an efficient manner.

Ministry Secretary Ivan Silva said the country needs a comprehensive plan that could ensure 60 percent of its natural water resources will be exploited by the people within the next 40 years.

President Rajapaksa instructed Irrigation and Water Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to look into the shortage of engineers in institutions coming under the Ministry and solve them immediately.

It was revealed at this meeting that a number of development projects such as Moragahakanda, Kalu Ganga and Walawe Ganga are in progress.

Officials pointed out that water would be filled to the Deduru Oya and Rabaken Oya next year.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Deputy Minister S.M,. Chandrasena and Finance Ministry Secretary Dr P. B. Jayasundara were among those present.