Nimal Siripala overjoyed by higher allocation in Budget

Saturday, 21 December 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources Management is one of the few Ministries that continues to enjoy a steady increase in budgetary allocation during the past five years.

The recent allocation of Rs. 40 billion from Budget 2014, will be used for further “expanding of the irrigation projects and continue to establish infrastructure necessary for distributing drinking water,” Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management and the Leader of the House of Parliament Nimal Siripala de Silva assured the Parliament last week. Elaborating on the recent irrigation projects Minister de Silva said: “Last year we completed the Rambakan Oya project. We will complete the Danduru Oya project during the first quarter 2014. The Uma Oya project though got delayed due to sanctions on Iran, we are looking at completion in 2016. The Moragahakanda project has received $ 252 million from the Chinese Government. The Kalauganga project is the remainder of Mahaweli Project. We are looking at starting construction in next January. Sixty percent of the work of the Gurugal Oya project is completed. Feasibility studies are underway for the south bank of the Maduru Oya development. The Yan Oya project is already given to the contractors and the Nilvala Ganga project is underway.” Elaborating on providing irrigated water to the northern parts of Sri Lanka, Minister de Silva assured the House that construction will commence shortly with the feasibility studies coming to an end soon. “We have constructed many tanks in the Northern Province. Winayathi Kulam tank was renovated at a cost of Rs. 200 million. Completion of the Moragahakanda and Kalunganga projects will enable us to provide irrigated water to the north. We have allocated Rs. 9,000 million to renovate 32 old anicuts and tanks. Repairs on 31 are underway. That is not all, for the first time in Sri Lanka we have established an electronic system to monitor water levels of all dams and tanks from a central location. The World Bank has financed us for this project on zero interest payable in 40 years. We have also removed mud in 192 tanks at a cost of Rs. 1,225 million,” added Minister de Silva.