Five years of development - Jaffna district:

Jaffna to generate more income with new projects

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

The situation that prevails in the country after the eradication of terrorism enables the Northerners utilise the benefit of all its inhabitants. The Government's plan to develop the four major areas of economic activity are agriculture, fisheries, small and medium sector industries and the service sector. For over centuries Jaffna citizens were in the forefront in agriculture, business and industries. And today, to regain its past glory, more land have been cultivated with new crops and the market getting broader to generate more profits.

Plans have been made already for the new Jaffna town to be upgraded as the Northern Metro Urban Centre, in the national development plan initiated by the Government.

As an initial step, the integrated strategic environment assessments are being made in the Jaffna district by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to identify the most appropriate locations for the new structures of the plan. "Discussions are going on with the respective authorities in laying out the plan," Director of the Information Systems and GIS division of the UDA L.H. Indrasiri speaking to the 'Sunday Observer'. said.

As Indrasiri explained four new urban renewals are included.

Around 11 projects have been planned for the development of the historical Jaffna Fort and its surrounding areas, the central market complex, private and SLTB bus stations and public parking spaces in one of urban renewals.

Resettlements

The construction of the Jaffna Railway station, housing for Railway Department employees, a facelift in the town area is the next urban renewal plan.

The other two plans are constructing housing complexes for low income families, and an international cricket stadium, installing new traffic systems and top class facilities for the tourism industry.

To protect the culture and environment was taken into consideration along with the new plan," Indrasiri said. The Duraiappah stadium and the Cultural Centre located close to the Library will be repaired with funding from the Government of India.

According to the statistics available with the Sri Lankan Army, nearly 60,000 people have been resettled in Jaffna. Governor Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri said that arrangements have been made to support these people to settle them in their own lands. The Divisional Secretariats and the other local authorities are assisting the civilians to clear their lands and establish livelihood.

Houses for the poor

Under the directions of the Commander of the Jaffna Security Forces Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe the Sri Lanka Army has already started building houses for the poor families who are in dire need of a shelter. Some of these families are with no fixed abode due to lack of finance or absence of a breadwinner or elder males in the family to put up a shelter.

The project intends to provide fixed abode for the poor families in their owned plots of land by constructing fifteen houses by 49 Army units under the command of 51, 52, 55 Divisions and Task Force 7 will construct 680 houses. Initially 437 families have been selected.

The Divisional Secretariats have confirmed the ownership of these lands. The value of each house is estimated at Rs. 200,000. This community relation project is an effort of the Sri Lankan Army. The Army plans to handover the houses to the owners last week.

In addition, Army has commenced development programs to support the Government. This is to fulfil the anticipated goals of the 'Uthuru Wasanthaya' (Vadakkin Vasantham) development program. The Army is extending their fullest corporation to help rebuild the fisheries and agricultural sectors.

In order to upgrade the livelihood activities of the rural community several projects have been implemented in the Jaffna district mostly focusing on household industries.

A small-scale milk collection and processing project, implemented in Karaveddy and a project to promote jaggery production and value-added products from sweet toddy in Pandatheruppu. Another small-scale milk processing unit in Pannalai and Puloly.

These are the main community based industries initiated in 2009.

Resettling areas are prioritized in the de-mining process. De-mining either sides of the A32 road from Pooneryn to Mannar is expedited. De-mining either sides of the A9 road from Muhamalai to Mankulam is given priority. The areas along the high-tension power line from Chunnakam to Elephant Pass are the other areas in which de-mining is expedited.

After completing the de-mining task the Army would handover a Low Risk Certificate to the relevant Divisional Secretariat.

Considering the availability of data up to mid February 2010, 1,944,000 square metres have been cleared by the de-miners along the A9 road which commenced on December 23, 2009. Along the A-32 road from Jaffna to Karathivu have cleared approximately 185,000 square metres of land and it will be handed over to the civil administration, the Sri Lanka Army said.

Jaffna is divided into five education zones and last year 23 schools were developed at a total cost of Rs. 97.39 million funded by the Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development. Education activities in 71 schools that were closed down will recommence soon in addition to the existing schools in the peninsula.

Focal villages

Under the Re-awakening Project implemented by the Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development, 25 villages have been identifies as focal villages that require especial development.

These 25 villages are located in 12 DS Divisions - that is Delft, Velanai, Kayts, Karainagar, Sandilipay, Chankanai, Uduvil, Tellippalai, Kopay, Chavakachcheri, Karaveddy and Point Pedro. Totally Jaffna has 15 DS divisions.

Under the Provincial road projects a total of 100 km of C and D roads are repaired and reconstructed with a cost of 20 million rupees.

Emergency Northern Recovery Project (ENReP) focusing on rural development would expedite IDP resettlement plans to assist 100,000 IDPs.

The ongoing Community Livelihood Development Project in conflict affected areas, known as Village Re-awakening project is assisting the project implementation until the ENReP implementation arrangements are made.

Irrigation and agriculture

At a cost of 200 million rupees the Valukkaiaru drainage is getting rehabilitated implemented by the Provincial Irrigation Department. As at end of 2009 the project has achieved 84% physical progress. In Vallukkai Aru drainage scheme sea water intrusion through Araly barrage was successfully arrested. Further it is able to drain excess flood water after rehabilitation, through successfully operating the gates during the rainy season. Apart from red onions, tobacco and grapes, Jaffna is famous for its bombay onion, chilli, plantain, beetroot and carrot cultivations. A variety of vegetables such as egg plant, beans, long beans, tomatoes and capsicum(green pepper), are grown on this fertile soil rich in minerals.

Fishing is another gold mine for Jaffna. The three main fish selling hot spots in Jaffna are Gurunagar, Colombothurai and Point Pedro.

"Facing LTTE atrocities these people led a difficult life. And now with this total freedom it is high time we expedite the development work for the betterment of the people," said Northern Province Governor Maj.Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri. "The people must feel the difference," he said while explaining development drive. Going a step further local Government is trying to build more income generating projects and tourism which is an easy and a quick way. "Jaffna peninsula owns beautiful scenes of nature. At present we are developing Casuarina beach in Karainagar and Chadi beach, once famous tourist destinations," he said.

Following improvements during the last year Jaffna is drafting the action plan for 2010. Under the 'Wadakkin Wasantham' program the Government successfully completed 2,708 projects as at December 31, 2009 at a cost of rupees 4,791.32 million.