Water to Jaffna from Iranamadu

Disna MUDALIGE

Project agreements to supply water to Jaffna from the Iranamadu Tank have been signed, said Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

He said people of Jaffna had been waiting for 50 years for this project to materialize.

Addressing a press conference at the Information Department yesterday the Minster said that the Asian Development Bank and the France Government are funding the project while the Sri Lankan Government too contributes a share. Under first phase of the project Rs 22 billion will be utilized to supply water to 60,000 families.

"A sewerage system will also be constructed parallel to the water supply project. The whole project is expected to be completed in 2016," said the Minister. He noted that the aim of the Government is to provide 2.2 million pipe borne water supply connections by 2016. "Thirty four special projects are being implemented islandwide to reach this goal. In addition 3600 Community Based Water Projects covering three million people are implemented in 1053 Grama Niladhari Divisions. Distribution of health and sanitary facilities is also going on in selected areas under these projects" he explained.

The Minister also mentioned that the move to repair sewerage lines from Moratuwa to Ja-ela, Sri Jayawardenapura and Colombo prevented ground water pollution. He also added that the supply of pipe borne water to every household in the Western Province is nearing completion.

"The budget has allocated Rs 29 billion for our Ministry this year and with the international funding and aids our financial capacity exceeds Rs 66 billion. Our aim is to make this country the best in South Asia in water supply coverage" the Minister observed.

He also noted that the Ministry did not increase water tariffs during past few years. "All steps are taken to avoid a revision of water bills.

"At the same time we supply water to low income families at largely reduced rates" he said.