|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 12 September 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Public and private sectors combine to make tank rehabilitation successful by Gamini Warushamana Private and public sector companies as well as the public at large are engaged in the 10000 Tanks Rehabilitation Project to make the project a success. It is becoming a national movement Minister of Agriculture Anura Dissanayake said in an interview with the Sunday Observer Business. A Large number of private sector companies have expressed their interest in contributing to tank rehabilitation, while some companies have have undertaken to pay the total cost of building several tanks. The banking sector is the largest financial contributor to this project. The National Savings Bank has offered Rs.50 million and is the largest amount offered so far. The Peoples Bank and the Bank of Ceylon have offered Rs.25 million each while the DFCC Bank has offered Rs. five million to rehabilitate tanks and for the socio economic uplift of the area in collaboration with government and the community. Hatton National Bank has agreed to undertake rehabilitation of several tanks costing Rs. five million. HNB will identify tanks and areas in due course. The Commercial Bank has offered Rs. three million in the first phase to rehabilitate four tanks in Kurunegala and Matale districts. The Sampath Bank has undertaken rehabilitation of 2-3 tanks at a cost of Rs. three million. HSBC has also offered Rs. three million. The Jinasena Group of Companies, CTC Eagle Insurance Company, Ellawala Horticulture ltd, Jana Sri Finance Company, Laugfs Cas, Ceylon Tobacco, Sanasa are some of the other private sector companies engaged in the program. In addition, private sector chambers have agreed to help in getting more support from the private sector companies. Trade unions, the University Students Movements, school children, schools and other social organisations have agreed to assist the project financially or by providing labour. Nalanda College, Colombo has also undertaken rehabilitation of a tank. Minister Dissanayake said the project is financially and economically viable. The ministry is obtaining consultation from experts in the field. Dr.A.N.S Kulasinghe headed the consultation commitee. Ministry sources said that the experts are very keen on the ancient technology applied in construction of these tanks as well as conserving archeological facets. Before starting the project a scientific evaluation was carried out. Rain fall statistics of over 100 years have been analysed. According to these studies experts revealed that the rainfall of the country has not changed but there are shifts of seasons. However, the new pattern that can be obsevered is that any drought of over two months caused a severe water shortage. They hope that the rehabilitation of abandoned small tanks and restoration of the ancient irrigation network will change the scenario. The project target is to rehabilitate 1000 tanks and anicuts within this year and another 3000 in the next year. The project will be completed within five years. The Ministry totally denied the propaganda carring out by various sectors and media saying that the Ministry had spent Rs.100 million on publicity. It says it has spent only Rs.900,000. State and private media have carried out some publicity programs free of charge. Since the project aims to get large public participation for the project as well as change the negative attitudes of the new generation regarding agriculture, there is a need for publicity. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
