8,000 acres to be cultivated in Mannar and Vavuniya

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

The Government plans to cultivate nearly 8,000 acres of paddy fields in Mannar and Vavuniya during the Maha season that is due to commence in the second week of next month.

Two-thousand acres of paddy lands in the Nochchimodai area in Vavuniya along the A9 road will be cultivated from October 1, Northern Province Governor Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri said. "Around 6,000 acres of paddy fields will be cultivated in the Giant Tank area in Mannar after receiving the clearance certification from the Security Forces," the Governor said.

Demining is nearing completion in the 6,000 acres and with the security certificate issued by the Security Forces the farmers can commence cultivation in the Mannar 'Rice Bowl' after a lapse of over a decade.

Nineteen irrigation tanks have been repaired and reconstructed in 33 villages in the Vavuniya district where Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are being resettled.The Presidential Task Force for Northern Province development has instructed contractors to complete the reconstruction carried out in the Northern Province by October 15, especially areas selected by the Task Force to resettle the IDPs.

Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and the Northern Province Governor Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri met the contractors yesterday to expedite infrastructure development work.