Unauthorised cultivation around Kimbulwana oya must stop - farmers
M A R Manukulasooriya-Hiriyala group corr
Nearly 6,000 farmers living in villages around Kimbulwana oya, one of
the largest reservoirs in the Hiriyala electorate, request authorities
to take immediate action to eject unauthorised cultivators in the
feeding area as the tank is getting silted as a result of their
cultivations.
According to the farmers, this problem has been dragging on for the
last 25 years without any solutions.
Irrigation authorities said the extent of the oya was 550 acres and
the depth was about 18 feet in 1957. But today the extent of the oya is
reduced to about 500 acres and the depth reduced to about 10 feet.
Veteran farmer of Mailamada B M Abeyrathne said this situation has
arisen as a result of the unauthorised cultivations around the oya.
"Now these cultivators have cultivated various kinds of vegetables
inside the tank while it was dry. How can we collect water when the
rainy season sets in? We have sent nearly 1,000 letters to authorities
regarding this matter, he said.
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