52 km flood protection bund at Upparu in Kopay, Jaffna

Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa last Sunday inaugurated the reconstruction of 52 km flood protection bund at Upparu in Kopay, Jaffna.

This bund was in a dilapidated condition hampering the cultivation activities in Achchuveli, Nelliady and Kopay areas as during the rainy seasons, salt water from Upparu lagoon floods the agricultural lands in these areas. Minister of Traditional Industry Douglas Devananda and Northern Province Governor G.V. Chandrasiri accompanied the Minister. Once the reconstruction of this bund at a cost of Rs. 18.5 million allocated by the Ministry of Economic Development is completed more than 2000 farmer families will be able to carry out their cultivation activities without any interruption. Since the restoration of normalcy in Jaffna in 2009 such sand bunds have been reconstructed to prevent salt water flooding into agricultural lands at Vadamarachchy lagoon and Araly in Jaffna. As a result of these reconstructions cultivation of over 3000 acres of land has begun by the IDPs who have returned to their former places following the shrinking of Tennamarachchy High Security Zone - Pic by Chaminda Hittatiya