Under Uthuru Vasanthaya and Negenahira Udanaya:

Water resources development in N-E

The Irrigation and Water Resources Management Resources Management Ministry could not rehabilitate any irrigation project or canal due to war and terrorism in the past due to war and terrorism. However this problem is no more. top priority has been given to the Ministry from the 2011 Budget, said Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva to the Daily News,

Excerpts of the interview

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

Q: What are the Budgetary allocations for irrigation and water resources management in the 2011 Budget?

A: Top priority has been given to the Irrigation and Water Resources Management Ministry from the 2011 Budget. In 2010, Rs 15,325 million was allocated for the Ministry but for next year, a total of Rs 24,263 million has been allocated for this Ministry. This shows a significant increase and the importance given to the subject.

Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva

Q: Are there any special or new projects?

A: The projects that need to be given priority have been identified. For example, Rs 2.280 million is allocated for Kuluganga and Uma Oya projects. The Uma Oya diversion project has been allocated Rs 5,450 million. Dam safety and water resource planning has been allocated Rs 2,755 million. Another Rs 500 million has been allocated for the Mahaweli system B rehabilitation project. The Deduru Oya project has been allocated Rs 2,170 million. The Rambaken Oya project has been allocated Rs 800 million. The Anuradhapura tank rehabilitation and enhancing of water storage project has been allocated Rs 1,100 million.

During the past 30 years, the Ministry could not rehabilitate any irrigation project or canal due to war and terrorism. Now rehabilitation of irrigation projects has been given priority. Many farmer organizations expressed their concern about the safety of dams and tanks. Farmers pointed out this during inspection tours. Rs 900 million has been allocated for the rehabilitation of small tanks. The rehabilitation work will continue. More funds have been allocated for Mahaweli development.

Q: Any issues that need to be addressed?

A: Lower Uva rehabilitation project has been given Rs 500 million. It will provide water for the farmers in the Moneragala district. Another Rs 400 million has been allocated for Gal Oya Nawodaya. Canals have not been rehabilitated for a long time. This project feeds several thousands of paddy lands and a large number of farmers living in the Inginiyagala and Ampara areas, will receive benefits from this project.

An interest free loan of over Rs seven billion was received from the World Bank IDA to rehabilitate 39 major tanks in the country. Rehabilitating dams and reservoirs are also included in this project. The rehabilitation work of Parakrama Samudraya and Inginimitiya have already commenced. Rs 1.8 billion of capital expenditure has been given for Mahaweli development this year.

Apart from the money allocated for the North and East under Uthuru Vasanthaya and Negenahira Nawodaya, more funds have been allocated for water resources development in the North and East.

A lot of new income generating avenues can be opened for our farmers by providing water for the Yala and Maha seasons, since all our water reservoirs are overflowing now.

Therefore the resevoirs will be able to store more water and we can save money spent on generating thermal power.

Q: How about the available human resources?

A: By the time I took over the Irrigation and Water Management Ministry, there were only a handful of engineers and technical persons. This Ministry needs adequate engineers and technicians. Therefore I recruited 66 engineers and 100 technicians. The 2011 Budget permitted the recruitment of engineers and technicians.

All vacancies will be advertised and ensured the transparency of recruitments. Required number of professionals need to be recruited to ensure the proper use of funds allocated from the Budget and to ensure efficient management.

Q: What are the areas you are going to focus on other than water resources?

A: It is agriculture. We have to ensure the food safety of the country. The Mahaweli region produce the highest yield of paddy per acre/hectare. Animal husbandry is to be promoted in the Mahaweli region. Under this program dairy products will be promoted and 4,000 acres of lands allocated exclusively for grazing fields. Assistance will be given to farmers to build huts. High breed cows will be given to them.

High quality fruit and vegetables are to be produced aiming at the local and foreign markets. The Ministry has called for applications from farmers to grow fruits and vegetables in a medium scale. The Ministry has already received 500 applications. They will be processed and selected soon. Each farmer will receive 50 acres of land for cultivation.

New techniques and methods of storing big onions for a long time are to be introduced among the farmers. They will be given high quality locally produced seeds. Then they will be able to produce big onions required for the whole country. Mahaweli farmers will produce the entire Soya bean requirement for the Thriposha program. The Ministry purchased the entire soya production in 2010 at a cost of Rs 85 per kilogram.

Arrangements have also been made to cultivate coconut in 50,000 selected areas in the Mahaweli region with the co-ordination of the Coconut Development Board and the private sector. Sri Lanka faced a coconut shortage from time to time. This project will solve that problem.