President instructs officials to formulate plan for drought relief

Saturday, 15 March 2014 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the officials of the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resource Management to formulate an immediate program to solve the problems that may arise due to prolonged drought in order to provide relief to public.

President Rajapaksa held a meeting yesterday at Temple Trees with the Minister of Irrigation and Water Management and the officials of the Ministry to discuss the development activities of the Ministry. He told the officials to give priority to safeguard the environment when planning development programs. The President emphasised the need to formulate a streamlined program for the proper management of the drought. He instructed the officials to formulate a program to provide clean drinking water as a solution to the drinking water issue, a main problem faced by the people, especially in the dry zones. The discussion focused on the reconstruction of reservoirs within forests, which have faced destruction and making pathways without obstacles to lead the wild elephants to easily access forest reserves. Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Secretary to the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Management Ivan de Silva participated in the discussion.