Big boost for irrigation this year

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Budget 2012 has allocated Rs.36,000 million to develop the irrigation sector this year, Irrigation and Water Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told the Sunday Observer yesterday. The Minister said apart from the irrigation projects under construction, the Ministry will launch several mega irrigation projects this year.

The Ministry will construct 10 major tanks and reservoirs to develop agriculture in several remote areas this year with the Rs.36,000 million already allocated, he said.

The Ministry has taken steps to construct the Morana tank to improve irrigation facilities in Rideemaliyadda, a remote area in the Badulla district. The Elle tank in Ratnapura, Digilioya reservoir, Matara and the Kalugal Oya reservoir in Ampara will also be constructed.

The Minister said the proposed Yan Oya project which will provide irrigation facilities to the Anuradhapura and Trincomalee districts will also be launched this year. The Lower Malwathu Oya project and the proposed Kavudulla Left Bank project will also be launched to further expand irrigation facilities in the Mannar and Polonnaruwa districts.