Dry Zone reservoirs being renovated

Priyanka KURUGALA

The Treasury allocated Rs 3,650 million to renovate water reservoirs and canals with immediate effect, Irrigation and Water Management Ministry Secretary Ivan de Silva said.

The Treasury provided the machinery required for this, he said. “We are considering the present drought as a blessing because we can now clean all canals and water reservoirs while there is no rain,” de Silva said. The ministry concentrated on cleaning small scale water reservoirs in the dry zone. Water reservoirs in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Puttalam, Padaviya and Kurunegala are being renovated under this programme, he said.

The labour will be provided by the farmers. The government will pay Rs 6,000 to a family, de Silva said. The Secretary said since there could be droughts in the future, collecting water and its storage were essential to face the situation. “The country should be ready to face anything. Therefore, this programme would be very useful in facing droughts in the future,” he said.