Serving SL’s water needs in 2012

Ariya RUBASINGHE

Following reservoir projects and integrated development projects have been included in the 2012 budget estimate to be implemented under Irrigation Department and Sri Lanka Mahaweli authority.

Morana Reservoir, Gonagala Thenna Tank, Ellewewa Reservoir, Udawathura Reservoir, Restoration Wilakandiya Reservoir, Kalugal Oya Reservoir, Digilioya Reservoir, System L Weli Oya Integrated Development – Kivul Oya, Thalpitigala Reservoir, Extension of Kaudulla LB main Canal upto Damsopura Wewa, Augmentation of Maha Galgamuwa Tank, Lower Malwathu Oya, Rambaken Oya Integrated Development, Rideemaliyadda Integrated Development, System B – Maduru Oya RB Development. It is proposed to implement these projects under the Irrigation Department and Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority. In addition it is proposed to implement following two programmes under the Water Resources Board as new programmes. Development of groundwater monitoring network in Jaffna Peninsula Hydro geological study in limestone aquifer in Mannar district

Morana research project

Construction of a reservoir across Ulhitiya Oya at a location called ‘Morana’ and diverting water to ‘Rotagolla Wewa’ is identified as a measure to overcome the shortage of water at Nagadeepa Scheme which is situated in the Nagadeepa village in Rideemaliyadda Divisional Secretary’s area in Badulla District.

This will supplement irrigation supply to about 600 ha cultivated under Nagadeepa reservoir below Rotagolla Wewa, which is an intermediate regulatory tank in Nagadeepa system.

It is proposed to irrigate 1,000 ha of new lands directly under the LB and RB canals of Morana Reservoir and to supply drinking water to the area up to and approximate capacity of 10,000 m3/day. The total estimated cost (TEC) of the project is Rs. 1,700 Mn and it is proposed to construct the reservoir in four years.

The proposed budgetary allocation for the year 2012 is Rs. 200 Mn.

Gonagalatenna tank

The project is to construct a tank at Dunuwila Village in Meda Dumbara Divisional Secretary’s area in Kandy District by construction of a dam across Gonagalatenna stream. Capacity of proposed tank is 131 Acft. This will provide irrigation facilities to 132 ha of paddy cultivation in Maha season and 15 ha of paddy and 34 ha of OFC in Yala season.

The project will benefit to 53 farmer families living in Pitigoda and Wendaruwa villages by providing water for their domestic requirements as well as for income generation.

Total estimated cost of the project is Rs. 55 million. Project is expected to be completed in two years.

The proposed budgetary allocation for the year 2012 is Rs. 25 Mn.

Ellewewa reservoir

It is proposed to construct Ellewewa Reservoir with the capacity of 2.25 MCM at Veeralagala village in Embilipitiya Divisional Secretariat Division in Ratnapura District. A dam is to be constructed across Kadigam ara, a tribunary of Hulandawa Oya in Walawe basin to enhance the irrigation water supply to feed 506 ha of paddy lands under Panamura scheme.

Other than the irrigation water supply, the project is to supply drinking water for about 1,000 people living in Veeralagala and Panamura areas and to generate 700 KW hydropower addicting 2.59 Gwh of energy to the national grid.

The total estimated cost (TEC) of the project is Rs.470 Mn. The proposed budgetary allocation for the year 2012 is Rs. 100 Mn. and project is to be completed in three years.

The proposed budgetary allocation for the year 2012 is Rs. 70 Mn.

Udawathura reservoir (Kadukanna) in Nilwala flood protection scheme

Udawathura reservoir (Kadukanna) is one of the five reservoirs proposed to be constructed across small stream at upstream of the Nilwala Ganga Basin under Nilwala rehabilitation programme. The location of the Udawathura reservoir is Nape village in Malimboda Divisional Secretariat Division in Matara District.

Farmers of downstream of Nilwala Ganga area suffer from frequent flooding and farmers of Nape area face water shortage at dry spells. Construction of proposed project will ease their problems by ensuring water regulations with the implementation of the project in 2012.

Storage capacity of proposed tank is 143 Ac ft, which will supplement irrigation supply to 81 ha of paddy cultivation. Total estimated cost of the project is Rs. 40 Mn.

The proposed budgetary allocation for the year 2012 is Rs. 40 Mn.

Restoration of Wilakandiya reservoir

The Wilakandiya reservoir is an abandoned tank in Ebbehera Village in Mahiyangana Divisional Secretary’s area in Badulla District. The main bund of the tank has been constructed across Nelliattakandiya Kandura, which is a small tributary of Mahaweli River.

Under the proposed restoration, about 200 ha of lands, immediate downstream of the tank can be irrigated giving an opportunity for the farmers in the Ebbahera village to ease their water related hardships for their cultivation as well as domestic water requirements.

Restoration works, which has commenced in 2004, has to be suspended due to foundation problems with a permeable rock layer identified while excavating.

After further geological investigations for the foundation, a new estimate was prepared, that is of Rs. 81 Mn, which is proposed to be allocated in 2012.

Kalugal Oya Reservoir

It is proposed to construct a dam across the Kalugal Oya to form Kalugal Oya Reservoir with the capacity of 9.6 MCM, at Uhana Divisional Secretariat area of the Ampara District. There is no any tank around the area at present and farmers living in Bandaraduwa, Bokkebeddha and Mangalagama have to face water shortage problems for their cultivations and domestic requirement at dry seasons.

The Kalugal Oya, the main stream of the proposed reservoir, falls within the catchment of the Navakiri Tank.

Navakiri Tank which normally spills in every North East monsoon would have no any shortage of water by the constructing of the Kalugal Oya Reservoir.

By construction of the Kalugal Oya reservoir, 1130 ha of land can be irrigated benefiting about 1,000 people living in the area as well as 400 new settlers, who will get irrigated lands for cultivation and other infrastructure facilities under the project.

The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 1,517 Mn and is expected to be completed in three years.

The proposed allocation for the year 2012 is Rs 200 Mn.

Weli Oya (System L) Integrated Development. Kivul Oya Reservoir

Weli Oya Divisional Secretary division is economically backward area with very minimum infrastructure facilities. For last 30 years no significant investment had been made on infrastructure development of the area due to poor security situation prevailed. Therefore, the people in this area live with very difficult living condition.

The proposed project envisages to improve roads, health, education, water supply and other sanitary facilities in the area and to help income generation activities of the community by improving agriculture and livestock farming.

To facilitate the agricultural activities, it is proposed to construct a reservoir across Kivul Oya, which is a major tributary of Ma Oya. The water of Kivul Oya is at present flowing to sea without being used for the development of the area.

Construction of Kivul Oya Reservoir to store 66 MCM will provide irrigation water for 1700 ha of new lands and enhance the irrigation supply to 700 ha of existing farmlands. In addition, the reservoir will provide drinking water for about 10,000 people living in Weli Oya Divisional Secretary area, and will provide facilities for inland fishery and many other indirect benefits.

Total Project cost if Rs 6,000 million and the proposed allocation for the year 2012 is Rs 100 million.

Lower Uma Oya (Thalpitigala Reservoir) project

Environment Impact Assessment study report of Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project (UOMDP) has recommended providing of a reservoir between Puhulpola Dam and Bathmadilla Anicut to ensure more reliable water supply to water users in the lower reaches in Uma Oya.

Therefore, proposed Thalpitigala Reservoir is planned to be constructed in lower Uma Oya at a location upstream of Bathmadilla Anicut. This will lend to enhanced regulation and management of Uma Oya basin water resource while ensuring environmental flow, irrigation supply to Minipe anicut and irrigation supply to Bathmadilla anicut. In addition, it will provide 40 Gwh of electrical energy through the proposed hydropower plant of 12 MW capacity.

Tentative estimated cost of the project is Rs 5,500 million and the project is expected to be completed in three years. Budget provision for 2012 is Rs 100 million.

Extension of Kaudulla LB main Canal upto Damsopura Wewa

The proposed project involves extension of Left Bank main canala of Kaudulla Scheme, improvement of Damsopura Wewa and Babiya Wewa, construction of canal system to provide irrigation facilities to 750 ha of paddy lands, which includes 350 ha of new lands and 400 ha of existing paddy lands. Existing lands only get water for Maha cultivation and do not get proper yield due to scarcity of water. Since Kaudulla Reservoir is to be augmented under Moragahakanda - Kalu Ganga project, this additional area can be provided with irrigation water to cultivate both Yala and Maha seasons. Development of road system also planned to be done under the project. Implementation of this project will alleviates the hardships of 939 farmer families living in Kumudupura, Damsopura, Jayagampura and Babiyawewa, with reliable irrigation supply, better transport facilities, improved opportunities for other income generating activities like fishing and livestock farming etc.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 368.8 million. Project is expected to be completed in two years. Budget provision for 2012 is Rs 40 Mn. Augmentation of Maha Galgamuwa tank

Maha Galgamuwa Wewa is an ancient tank which is located in Ehetuwewa Divisional Secretariat Division, Kurunegala District. The project includes construction of a diversion structure across Siyabalagamuwa Oya and a 8.75 km long feeder canal to Maha Galgamuwa tank. Siyabalagamuwa Oya which has a gross catchment of 43.75 sq km, gets drainage water from Mahaweli System H area.

The Usgala Siyambalagamuwa tank is located below the proposed anicut. Its cropping intensity is 2.0 and there is no shortage of water. Presently this tank is kept 2 ft below the full supply level due to weakness of the bund and it is spilling very often. Under Dam Safety and Water Resources Planning Project (DSWRPP), the bund will be strengthened. In addition, there will be water to this area by the proposed future projects like North Central Province Cannel. Hence, there will not be any adverse effect to Usgala Siyambalagamuwa from this diversion. This feeder cannel and anicut structure will be useful to divert the NCP cannel water to Mi-Oya system, in future. Augmentation of tank will enable to ensure the irrigation water to 1,200 acs of existing and 200 acs of new lands. There are lot of indirect benefits for the village in the area such as improved livestock and farming, fishing, drinking water and positive impact on the environment as well.

The total estimated cost of the project is Rs 500 Mn. The project is expected to be completed in three years. The proposed allocation for the year 2012 is Rs 100 million.

Rambaken Oya integraded development project

Project area is situated in Padiyathalawa and Maha Oya DS Divisions in the Ampara District. Rabukkan Oya Reservoir Project construction work was started in 2007 and to be completed in 2012. The proposed Rambakan Oya Integrated Development project is aimed in settlement and land development component of Rambukkan Oya Scheme with improvement of infrastructure for new settlement areas. The area of Padiyathalawa and Maha Oya DS Divisions were declared as a Mahaweli Special Area under Mahaweli Authority Act No. 23 of 1979 and therefore, the project area comes under purview of MASL.

The projects include productivity enhancement, livestock development, business development, institutional development, environmental conservation, land development, infrastructure development and settlement assistance in the project area. Total estimated cost of the project is Rs 1,086 million and is expected to be completed in 2016.

The writer is the Director General, Media Centre for National Development, Ministry of Mass Media and Information