North poised for higher economic growth - Jaffna GA

By P. Krishnaswamy

The Jaffna district is gradually returning to its former glory with the implementation of mega development projects such as infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, industries, education and health, Jaffna GA Ms. Imelda Sukumar told the Sunday Observer.

She said that after an unfortunate era of nearly three decades the people, a large majority of whom have returned to their own former places, look cheerful and full of life now.

They have resumed their occupations.

The Ministry of Economic Development implemented 1,229 Special Projects for the district at a cost of Rs. 5,436.08 million, last year she said.

These include the Emergency Northern Recovery Project, North-East Community Restoration and Development Project, Re-Awakening Project and projects for irrigation, water supply and local service improvement.

Over 90 percent of the heavily mined areas have been cleared and 35,143 families comprising 110,156 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have been resettled, she said.

About 10,000 families presently living with their relatives and friends have consented to return to their former places in the High Security Zones (HSZs) in Palali and Kankesanthurai.

But some of these areas are mine-infested and, therefore, they will be resettled after the demining operations in those areas are completed and clearance from the Defence Ministry is received, the GA said, adding that the district has a population of 613,594 living in 15 DS divisions.

Around Rs.1,600 million has been allocated for resettlement of displaced families in the High Security Zones (HSZs), she said.

Explaining other major development projects, she provided the following information:

A total of Rs.29,069.73 million has been spent on Road Sector Development Projects with fund allocation from the Ministry of Economic Development, the Governments of China, Sweden and the Asian Development Bank.

The reconstruction of the 56 km railway line from Palai to Kankesanthurai and renovation of railway stations have been started by the Government of India at a cost of $ 150 mn.

Sixty percent of the land cleaning has been completed and the rails for the project have already arrived.

Around Rs.18,328.18 mn has been allocated for the Jaffna-Kilinochchi Water Supply and Sanitation Project under the Iranamadu Water Supply Scheme.

A population of 435,000 living in the DS divisions of Jaffna, Thenmarachchi, Karaveddy, Velanai, Kopay, Sandilipay, Chankanai, Nallur, Karainagar, Kayts, Poonakery and Palai will be benefited.

One percent of the project has been completed at a cost of Rs.7.10 million. It is an ADB, AFD and GoSL funded project.

Funds have been allocated for Water Supply Schemes in Point-Pedro, Valvettithurai, Maruthankerny and Delft off-shore Island. Rs. 674 mn has been allocated for the Point-Pedro Scheme under which a local population of 22,000 will be benefited.

Rs.248.57 mn has been allocated for the Valvettithurai scheme and 10,059 people will be benefited. Rs.25.8 Mn has been allocated for the Maruthankerny scheme to benefit 1,900 persons. 1,443 people of Delft will be benefited under the scheme for the off-shore island at a cost of Rs.12.96 mn.

The Ministry of Economic Development has allocated Rs.8.4 mn for many Divisional Secretariat Divisions to promote products such as palmyrah garments, tailoring, food based products, wood crafts and chemical based products.

A total of Rs. 376.91 mn was allocated last year under the Samurdhi Development Activities to promote agriculture, industries, marketing, fisheries, livestock development and construction of toilets.

Funds have been allocated to promote agricultural and fisheries sectors.

The production of seasonal crops such as red onions, chillies, potatoes, manioc, tobacco, kurakkan, green gram , cowpea, gingerly, ground nuts and black gram as well as paddy is comparatively high in the district because of its fertile soil.

With assistance provided to the farmers including free seed paddy, fertilisers at highly subsidised prices, initial assistance for preparing and ploughing the ground and marketing facilities, the production of paddy and other highland crops are anticipated to increase many-fold in the coming years.

The Ministry of Fisheries has introduced several welfare schemes for the fisher-families and has provided all assistance including fishing gears, vessels, docking piers, fisheries harbours and marketing facilities. With the fertile fishing grounds in the Northern seas fish production is anticipated to increase many-fold.

In the health sector work on the Rs. 2,900 mn Japanese JICA-funded Jaffna Teaching Hospital project is now in progress.

Of the 22 projects under a fund allocation of Rs. 138 mn from the Ministry of Health 12 have already been completed while 11 are in progress.

The Atchuvely Industrial Estate, with a major funding of Rs.253.80 Mn from the Government of India and Rs. 26.20 mn from the GoSL , is producing aluminum hardware, stainless steel products, coconut oil, sodium silicate, soap, poultry feed, canned fruits, printing ink and glassware.

The total land area is 64 acres , factory units are 36 and employment has been provided to 2,000 people.

Under the Annual Implementation Program for the Jaffna district for 2011 Rs.468 mn has been allocated for agriculture, Rs.530.45 mn for Industries, Tourism and Trade and Rs.22,176.16 mn for human settlements. Under this program Rs.191.95 mn has been allocated for economic infrastructure, Rs.30,217.50 mn for transport, Rs. 4,023.03 mn for social infrastructure and Rs. 481.84 mn for administrative overheads.

The UN Agencies have allocated Rs.962.79 mn for 50 projects and the projects are in progress with Rs.575.48 mn already spent. INGOs have allocated Rs. 1,040.59 mn for 148 projects and Rs.723.77 mn has already been spent on these projects.

Local NGOs have allocated Rs.666.43 mn and Rs.450.29 mn has already been spent on these projects. These projects are on fisheries, housing, and other welfare facilities to the resettled families.

Under the District Development Plan for 2012 Rs. 18,909.43 mn has been allocated for development of agriculture, industries, tourism,trade, human settlements , economic infrastructure, transport, social infrastructure and administrative overheads. The Government of India is undertaking a project to construct a cultural centre in Jaffna at a cost of Rs.900 mn in order to preserve and foster the rich cultural heritage of the Jaffna district and other nearby areas which are replete with historical, archaeological and religious resources.

It was decided to develop the Jaffna Cultural Centre as an iconic building that would serve as a cynosure of cultural activities in the North.