Five years of development - Polonnaruwa District:

Restoring pristine glory

by L. S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI in Polonnaruwa

The North Central Province of an advanced civilization had most complex irrigation systems in the ancient world.

Some of the man-made structures such as Parakrama Samudraya, Kalawewa, Minneriwewa the vestiges of a glorious era are still intact to feed the hungry population.

The Polonnaruwa district with 3,293 Sq km has a population of 449,509 and includes 7 Divisional Secretary's Divisions and 295 Grama Niladari Divisions. It accounts for a major share of island's rice production.

The Moragahakanda-Kaluganga Project in NCP will undoubtedly be the largest irrigation development project in the history of the island.

Moragahakanda-Kaluganga Development Project

This project was spearheaded by the Minister of Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services and Polonnaruwa District Parliamentarian Maithripala Sirisena.

This gigantic project which was launched three years ago is progressing rapidly. Moragahakanda Dam and the Laggala Dam across the Amban Ganga and Kalu Ganga were inaugurated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa recently.

Development in the Polonnaruwa district

The construction of Kubiyangahaela-Moragahakanda new roadway, the Moragahakanda Bridge, Wellewela-Guruwela roadway, Laggala Bridge and the Laggala new town is estimated at Rs. 1,091 million.

"The completion of the Moragahakanda-Kaluganga Development Project will be the realisation of an old dream to alleviate the woes of the Rajarata peasants, Minister Maithripala Sirisena said.

The stage I of the project which has been completed already provides irrigation facilities to over 80,000 hectares of agricultural lands in the Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Trincomalee and Matale districts which enables the lands to be cultivated twice a year adding 20,000 hectares of new lands for agricultural purpose in the Medirigiriya and Kalu Ganga basin.

The drinking and industrial water requirement of the area was also completed during the first phase of the project.

The completion of this massive multi-purpose project will witness a new era of prosperity in the Polonnaruwa and Medirigiriya areas.

A total of 30,000 acres of land will be developed under the Medirigiriya development programme at a total investment of Rs. 12,000 million, while 12,000 farmer families will be provided with agricultural lands.

The construction work of the Bisopura new town which is the apex of the Medirigiriya development plan, as well as tanks and the road network are being expeditiously completed.

The total estimated cost of the Moragahakanda-Kaluganga Development Project is over 75,000 - million rupees. Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Japan and the OPEC organisation have pledged funds to complete the project.