SC fixes date to review Uma Oya project redress process

By S. S. Selvanayagam

The Supreme Court yesterday fixed to be mentioned on 7 December, to appraise the progress on the water project and the compensation process forfarmers’ lost crop caused by the Uma Oya Project.

The Bench comprised Chief Justice K. Sripavan and Justice Anil Gooneratne. The Attorney General on 18 February informed the Supreme Court (SC) that the state would award compensation to villagers who are adversely affected by the Uma Oya Project. Then on 14 September, the SC directed the Uva Province Director of Agriculture to take necessary measures to pay compensation for crop loss to affected farmers.

This was in response to a fundamental rights petition filed by the Centre for Environmental Justice, and four residents of Bandarawela area including M. D. P. Manatunga, which claimed that they had been negatively affected as a result of the Uma Oya multi-purpose project. 

The petitioners complained that the Uma Oya project had caused their homes and crops to be destroyed. They also alleged that the project had caused them to lose access to clean drinking water.

The Supreme Court on 4 July also ordered pipe-line water to be supplied before 31 December to villagers who were affected by the Uma Oya Project and that compensation should be paid to the affected farmers through the Mahaweli Athority.

Secretary to the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment N. Rupasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Irrigation and Agriculture, the Central Environment Authority and the Attorney General are cited as respondents. 

Deputy Solicitor General Parinda Ranasinghe appearing for the Attorney General had also submitted a Report and informed the Court that the compensation would be awarded to the villagers of the Badulla district who are affected by the construction of Uma Oya multi-purpose project which diverts the water to Moneragala and Hambantota districts.

Ravindranath Dabare appeared for the petitioners.