Yan Oya diversion project to help Padaviya farmers
by Anura Maitipe
The Mahaweli Authority has taken steps to implement the long awaited
project of diversion of Yan oya to Padaviya on the directive of
President Mahinda Rajapaksa to provide irrigation facilities to farmers
in the area.
Chairman North Western Provincial Council, K. M. Nanadasena told the
Sunday Observer. He said it was the dream of the late Minister
Maithripala Senanayake and he launched the Mahawali scheme to provide
irrigation facilities to the farmer community in Padaviya.
Due to certain reasons it did not materialise and farmers in Padaviya
still look for the weather gods to cultivate their lands in the Padaviya
area. A large quantity of water which flow through the Yan oya during
the rainy season was not made use of for these projects and it flows to
the sea twice a year.
The drop between the Huruluwewa and Padaviwewe is about 400 feet and
with the diversion of the Yan oya the flow of water will be stored in
Huruluwewa.
From Huruluwewa water will flow to Padaviya filling the tanks at
Medawachchiya, Kahatagasdigiliya, Kebithigollewe and Padaviya, he said.
With the implementation of the project, over 2,500 hectares of lands
will be converted into fertile paddy lands.
Around 7,000 hectares of paddy lands will also be irrigated
throughout the year, he said.
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