PARLIAMENT

‘Latest and traditional knowledge to revive irrigation sector’

Sandasen Marasinghe, Irangika Range and Disna Mudalige

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody presided when Parliament met at 9.30 a.m. yesterday. After presentation of papers and oral questions, the House took up the committee stage debate on the Appropriation Bill 2013 for the 18th day.

The committee took up the finance heads of the Water Supply and Drainage Ministry, Irrigation and Water Resources Management Ministry and Environment Ministry.

Gamini Jayawickrama Perera (UNP):

From the time of ancient kings, there was a deep rooted link among irrigation, agriculture, village, temple and tank. King Parakramabahu had stated that not a single drop of water that falls from the sky should be wasted without being used for agriculture. Due to the geographical location of the country, we are blessed with lots of tanks. Former Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake’s era was important, which led this country towards agricultural revival. Both agriculture and irrigation were given top priority during the UNP regime. We are the pioneers of initiating massive scale irrigation projects such as the Mahaweli, Rantambe, Randenigala and Victoria schemes. The irrigation sector was revived when former Minister Gamini Dissanayake was the relevant Minister. We experience heavy rainfall during several months of the year. It is necessary to formulate an action plan to save rain water to be utilized for agricultural purposes. Rain water should be harvested to be used for agriculture.

A number of paddy lands and other cultivations were destroyed by the drought. Therefore, it is necessary to implement a systematic programme to provide water for cultivations.

Irrigation and Water Resources Management Deputy Minister W.B. Ekanayake:

The government has allocated sufficient funds to renovate the tanks destroyed by floods. During the severe drought prevailed in the North Central Province recently, President Mahinda Rajapaksa took measures to summon farmers to Temple Trees to pay compensation. Irrigation is a vital sector in development. Sri Lanka is blessed with many traditional irrigation methods. Therefore, we have planned to utilize both latest and traditional methods for the betterment of the irrigation sector. A number of new irrigation projects have been initiated. Kumbukkan Oya and Yan Oya irrigation projects are expected to supply water to over 15,000 acres of paddy lands. These two projects will be completed by 2015. Farmers in the Wayamba Province face severe difficulties due to the shortage of water. Steps have been taken to meet water requirement through large and minor scale irrigation projects. We are in the process of achieving the target of providing drinking water for all households.

Resettlement Deputy Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan:

The government has allocated Rs. 2,000 million to renovate the Panamanian tank to provide water for agricultural and drinking water purposes in the North. The government has also allocated a huge amount of money to renovate minor tanks in the North and East. Around 50,000 acres of paddy has been provided with water through minor scale tanks. A large number of farmers have benefited through these irrigation projects. For the first time in the history, we have received 400,000 metric tonnes of paddy harvest in the Eastern province.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake (DNA):

There were 30,000 tanks in the country from the time of ancient kings. But today, only 14,000 tanks are available. It is reported that 14,000 tanks have been destroyed due to various man-made and natural disasters. Today, irrigation is at severe danger. It is reported that the government has leased out 23 major tanks to operate boat services to the private sector. This type of activity would definitely destroy both historical and natural values of these tanks.

Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva:

Allocations for the ministry has been increased over the past few years. For 2013, we have received Rs 40,500 million for our work. Our maximum effort was used to ascertain food security in the country during the drought period. The government ensured water supply to cultivations to the best capacity.

Allocations are just not enough to develop the irrigation sector. There is a dearth of irrigation engineers.

We have started centres to train new recruits in the field. We want local experts to carry out our work. Most of the recent projects such as Deduru Oya, were carried out with the expertise of local irrigation engineers. We are proud to use their skills and knowledge and we have confidence in them.

The Moragahakanda reservoir project is progressing fast. We have received USD 252 million from China for this purpose. The China Hydro company has started construction work on the Moragahakanda reservoir.

With the funds received from Kuwait, we have initiated the Kaluganga project. The Uma Oya project which was delayed to due to the problems of receiving Iranian funds, has now, recommended and is going on steadily.

The Iranamadu tank water project is also progressing fast.

We have to obtain environmental impact assessment licences and many other permits when carrying out our work, so, work cannot be done quickly. The proposals and requests of the people should also be considered when carrying out such projects.

Our aim is to provide drinking water and irrigation water without a scarcity. We want to attain food security.

Work on the Irrigation Museum is nearing completion. We have started a programme to map underground water resources and it is being carried out in six districts.

We adopt latest technology in data storage and other work.

Ranjith Madduma Bandara (UNP):

The Irrigation Ministry is important for the farming community of the country. Even though we had to import rice in the past, there is an excess of paddy harvest in the country today. We have become self-sufficient in rice. We are proud of this. Former UNP leaders too contributed towards this achievement. The Eastern Province makes a greater contribution in this regard.

The Moneragala district has the highest poverty rate. These people depend on agriculture. The tanks in this districts should be renovated. The majority of the people in the Moneragala district voted for the ruling party.

Water Supply and Drainage Deputy Minister Nirupama Rajapaksa:

A rapid development is taking place in the field of water supply and drainage. However, there are many projects to be initiated.

There are a large number of water supply and drainage projects implemented in 2012 which is the highest investment in the history. Some of them are Mahadambulla, Kurunegala, Badulla-Haliela, Ampara, Hambantota, Negombo, Moratuwa, Buttala, Polonnaruwa etc. Some of them have been commissioned. The government has many projects for 2013 as well. There are plans to provide more than one million people with water additionally within next 3 years. Rs. 25 billion will be allocated for the purpose. Our objective is to reduce the water flowed out of use of 17 percent by 2016.

Deputy Chairman of Committee Chandrakumar Murugesu:

For more than 2500 years, we have been popular for our water supply and it is still continuing. We have enough water resources. There are 163 tanks, 2,000 small tanks and 3,900 water streams in the country. A large number of tanks are being renovated in the North and East. A large number of tanks, waterways were destroyed in the North. But the Government is renovating them. The Kalmadu tank which was destroyed by the LTTE was renovated by the government bringing relief to the people and farmers in the area. The government has allocated Rs. 5.4 billion to renovate the Iranamadu tank. It will provide water for 15,000 acres of farm lands and drinking water for the people in Kilinochchi and Jaffna.

Around 1,000 employed in Elephant Pass salterns those days. Around 2,000 employed in the prawn industry and fisheries.

Sajith Premadasa (UNP):

The government’s responsibility is to provide drinking water for 20 million people of the country.

Uditha Lokubandara takes the Chair.

It is one of their rights. More than 66,000 people are suffering from kidney problems due to drinking water issues. The WHO has submitted reports on it. The WHO has suggested that the affected people should be provided with clean drinking water. It also said that the hair, hands and others body parts contain Arsenic. That problem is mainly reported from North Central and Uva provinces.

The need of a national framework to preserve clean natural water resources in the country has arisen.

Environment Deputy Minister Abdul Cader:

This development oriented budget will expedite the development process. It will uplift the living standards of the people in the North and East.

Priority has been given to reforestation and the protection of the environment. The government is implementing initiatives to protect forests of high conservation value. We have paid our attention to the issues of global warming and climate change.

We are following alternatives to overcome these challenges. We have formulated a plan to convert Sri Lanka into green country. The government has given a prominent place to provide pure drinking water for every households in the country.

Chamika Buddhadasa (UPFA):

President Mahinda Rajapaksa was instrumental in starting projects to provide pure drinking water for the people in the Uva Province. Rs 2,000 million has been allocated to these projects. Drinking water problems in Badulla, Diyathalawa Welimada and Haputhale have been solved through the Uma Oya irrigation project. A new purification plant was established in the Uva-Paranagama area spending Rs 183 million to provide fresh water. A programme is being implemented to renovate tanks in the Uva Province.

Harin Fernando (UNP):

Financial allocations made to the Environment Ministry have been reduced compared to the last year. A number of problems are prevailing in the environmental sector. Allocations made to the implementation of solid waste disposal projects have been reduced to Rs 200 m.

It was Rs 567 million last year. The government’s solid waste disposal programmes are failure. This has affected the people, specially garbage problems prevent healthy living.

I would like to commend the service delivered by Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva for the improvement of irrigation in the Badulla district.

Shehan Semasinghe (UPFA):

A number of drinking water projects are underway to minimize cases pertaining to chronic kidney diseases in the Anuradhapura district under the leadership of Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. Oyamaduwa, Thanthirimale and Viharagammaduwa projects are some of them.

It is expected to provide drinking water for the people in Anuradhapura North through the Mahakanadarawa tank. Attention has been paid to establish more water purification centres in the Anuradhapura district.

Dilum Amunugama (UPFA):

Two major drinking water projects were initiated to provide pure drinking water for the people in Kandy under the leadership of Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. The first project is the greater Kandy project which was started spending Rs 6,000 million under the first phase and Rs 6,500 million under the second phase.

A large number of people have benefited from the project. The second project is the Kandy South project. It was initiated by spending Rs 8,000 million. We have given 35,000 new water connections to the people in Kandy. Drinking water facilities will be provided under the Kandy North Project for other areas.

Agrarian Services and Wildlife Deputy Minister S M Chandrasena:

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, realizing the importance of developing the irrigation sector, has allocated Rs 40 billion this year. Massive scale irrigation activities are taking place in the country. Moragahakanda and Iranamadu irrigation schemes are two of them.

Buddhika Pathirana (UNP):

The Gin-Nilwala project affects about one million people directly. The Hambantota district often experiences droughts, whereas Galle and Matara experience floods.

The Gin-Nilwala diversion project is critically important at this juncture. It also helps generate hydro power. An integrated plan should be implemented in the Southern Province to manage water resources.

The people in the Southern Province still suffer due to the failure of the Third Phase of the Nilwala Ganga project. The Nilwala ganga is close to our lives. The people living close to the Nilwala ganga experience floods once in every 10 years. These people are scared that they will have to face such a grave flood in 2013.

Deputy Chairman of Committees Chandrakumar Murugesu takes the Chair.

Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena:

Our country is mainly nourished by four large rivers and as a whole, from 103 rivers.

We have a history connected with water resources management. We provide pipe-borne water for 43 percent of the population in the country.

We have initiated 3,500 community based water projects and these benefit about three million people. This is a novel initiative of the government. It has made rapid progress.

The country receives about 100 billion cubic metres of rainfall.

About 40 percent is not utilized. We have formulated a National Policy to utilize rainwater. It has been implemented through Urban Development regulations. We are going to implement a similar policy under the National Water Supply Act.

We have been distributing safe drinking water to the areas affected by kidney ailments. These projects have been extended to other hazardous areas too.

I must state that using pure drinking water distributed in urban cities to clean floors is a waste. We all must support to change this situation.

There is a necessity of an integrated plan to distribute drinking water and water for hydro power generation.

According to a latest research, certain districts may face water scarcity in the future. This is clear by studying the water scarcity levels in 1991 and projected levels in 2025. According to the study, Killinochchi, Kurunegala, Mannar and Kandy will be subjected to climate change.

At this juncture, I observe the need of a ‘Water Commission’. We alone cannot cope up with the emerging challenges in the sphere of water.

In the North, we have been able to complete several water supply projects. We have initiated a water supply project to the Madu Church. The massive Jaffna-Killinochchi water supply project has commenced. This project was much overdue.

This project could not be initiated for 60 years.

The government has allocated Rs 125 billion for a three year work plan for drinking water supply and sewerage system management projects.

The Environment Ministry should control sand mining in rivers. Salt water intrusion has become problematic in certain rivers. We have to introduce certain restrictions to control this situation. That is why I say a ‘Water Commission’ is needed.

The water supply scheme in Matara will be able to commence next year. The water tariff had to be increased due to increased expenses. But we did not increase this tariff for three years.

Lakshman Wasantha Perera (UPFA):

Community-based water supply projects should be expanded to other areas. This is a cost effective and pragmatic mechanism.

The Moragahakanda reservoir project is progressing and preliminary work on the project has been completed.

Thalatha Athukorala (UNP):

We know Ratnapura is famous for gems and floods. There should be a mechanism to find solutions for floods.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva:

To control floods, there should be banks built in mountainous areas. Then, tea estates are affected. However, feasibility tests are done for those projects. Finally, it will be handed over the public to decide as to what they want, to control floods or to project tea estates.

Thalatha Athukorala (UNP):

There are many natural catastrophes in Sri Lanka. I would like to know if the government has discussed with India of the risk faced by Sri Lanka with the implementation of a nuclear power plant in India.

Mohan P de Silva (UPFA):

The people can survive for a particular period without food but not without water. So, the government is concentrating on water supply.

However, the project in Gonapeenuwala should be expedited. I have to thank these ministries for providing water for Hikkaduwa, Galle and Matara. Those days, people had to drink brackish water.

Tharanath Basnayake (UPFA):

This is an agriculture based country, where a large number of population are farmers. That is the season for a considerable number of tanks had been made by ancient rulers.

This government too has initiated many massive projects, including Deduru Oya project, Uma Oya project, Kaluganga project, Moragahakanda project etc. So, the people’s and farmers’ dream in this country are realizing.

R. Yogarajan (UNP):

The people have praised the Water Supply and Drainage Minister. I know he is one doing a worthwhile job.

When the Upcountry is considered, the people think water is abundant. But there is no mechanism to provide water for the people properly.

Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody takes the Chair.

Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa:

We commenced a systematic project for waste management under the “Pilisaru programme”. The project is being implemented with the assistance of local government bodies. Attention has been paid to initiate compost fertilizer manufacturing programmes across the country.

A number of garbage disposal projects have commenced at the Pradeshiya Sabha level. We distributed compost bins among the people.

Awareness programmes have been conducted to educate people on compost projects. Forests in North and East areas will be declared as conversation areas. The accelerated Mahaweli Development Project had caused severe damage to the environment. A number of jungles were destroyed. Bio-diversity has changed in certain areas.

The percentage of our forest cover has reduced to 23 percent. We have paid our attention to increase the forest cover.

The biggest problem is increased global warming. We have to face the challenges caused by the climate change.

The drought, flood, earthquakes, cyclone and storms are some of them. We have to balance both environment and development. Otherwise, we have to face many problems.

We have signed many international conventions to protect the environment. We do not issue permits for sand-mining in rivers. We took measures to prohibit sand-mining in Deduru Oya. We have given opportunity to commence cultivations in forest areas. The national environment policy is being formulated.

We will be able to overcome a number of problems pertaining to the environment through this policy.

Finance Heads of Water Supply and Drainage Ministry, Irrigation and Water Resources Management Ministry and Environment Ministry were passed without amendments.

The House was adjourned until 9.30 a.m. today.