World Bank aid to renovate drainage scheme

By Anura MAITIPE

Under the re-awakening project launched by the Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development steps have been taken to renovate the Karavahu Drainage Scheme with the World Bank financial assistance of Rs. 240 million, the Technical Director World Bank X.V. Coongeh told the Sunday Observer.

The need to renovate the Karavahu Drainage Scheme was discussed by many governments in the past, but the project was not implemented due to the ethnic conflict, he said.

Delay to renovate the Drainage Scheme has resulted in the loss of livelihood for over 1,300 farmer families in the area and their paddy lands were inundated during the rainy season, he said.

During the dry season the farmers', cultivation was ruined due to the influx of salt water into their paddy fields through the drainage channels of kittanky causeway due to lack of a proper regulatory system, he said.

The Karavahu Drainage Scheme is covering three Divisional Secretariat areas such as Kalmunai, Santhamarathu and Samanthurai in the Ampara district. This scheme was a part of the ancient Paddipola Aru Scheme built by King Datusena and which had been later improved by Dutch rulers.

A regulator will be fixed at causeway with radial gates, Palla Vaikal Canal will be re-opened to divert excess water into the sea, the canal system will be widen further by removing mud deposited in the canal system.

The regulator will be installed at Palla Vaikal.