Under Deyata Kirula:

Drastic measures to protect tanks

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura additional district group corr

Drastic measures are being taken to protect the tanks in the Anuradhapura district.

The tanks salvation programme is being implemented on par with the Anuradhapura district Deyata Kirula - 2012 overall development activities.

There are around 2,000 small tanks in the district in addition to a range of major and medium scale tanks.

It is expected to remove sediment under the proposed plan thus broadening and deepening the water storage capacity evacuation of encroachers within the tanks reservations, removal of unauthorized buildings, and prohibiting the vehicular transportation along tank bunds.

Action are being taken for the evacuation of encroachers from the irrigational reservations of Nuwarawewa and Tissawewa reservoirs as an initial step. To begin with the programme the Irrigation and Water Resources Management Secretary has agreed to provide allocations for surveying for the demarcation of reservation boundaries. According to Anuradhapura District Irrigation Director Wasantha Palugaswewa the legality of the long-term lease already granted to encroachers within the Nuwarawewa and Tissawewa tank reservations and affiliated irrigational reserves were required to be scrutinized.

The problem of keeping cattle sheds and allowing the cattle to enter the tank beds freely are being dealt with by warning the cattle owners to duly manage their animals and taking over the stray cattle in to the custody of the Provincial Animal Production and Health Department for starting milk cow husbandry.

Furthermore as the withstanding capability of reservoir dams to heavy traffic loads is being drastically reduced, it has been decided not to allow vehicles to travel along the tank bunds and holding festivals and gathering places for ensuring safety of tanks.