Gin Nilwala Transbasin Diversion:

Project to redress woes

Disna MUDALIGE

The Gin Nilwala Transbasin Diversion Project is proposed by the government to divert the excess water to provide a supplementary flow to be South East Dry Zone, a Irrigation and Water Resources Management Ministry official said.

The Southern Province Gin Ganga and Nilwala Ganga Basins receive an average rainfall of 3,000 mm annually and flows to the sea without making much use of this water. These waters also cause flood damage in the low lying areas in Galle and Matara Districts, he explained.

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with China CAMC Engineering Co. Ltd to update feasibility studies and cost estimates, to prepare detailed designs and construct the project components as a large scale multipurpose project.

"Once this project is completed it would be possible to meet the water deficiencies for irrigation, domestic and industries in the basins of Walawe, Kirama Oya, Urubokka Oya, Kachchigal area etc, while producing 20 GWH of electrical energy for the national grid and reducing floods in the low lying areas", he noted.

The 2011 budget has provisioned Rs 95 million for logistic supports of this project, and the Ministry is expected to play a bigger role by expanding the irrigation infrastructure facilities, constructing of new multipurpose irrigation projects, ensuring the security of the existing irrigation systems and handling maintenance activities to improve water resources management.