Tank renovation under way in A'pura, Polonnaruwa

by Mohammed NAALIR

On completion of the ongoing program to remove mud from and renovate reservoirs, 100,000 acres will come under the plough during the Maha and Yala seasons in Vavuniya, Puttalam, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts, Agrarian Services Minister S.M. Chandrasena told the Sunday Observer.

The Minister said on a directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, 160 reservoirs are being renovated in these districts while mud is being removed. The removal of mud is also progressing in 1,000 medium level tanks.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa inaugurated the mud removal program in the major reservoirs last week, he said.

The Government has expedited mud removing in the Basawakkulama, Nachchaduwa, Padaviya, Huruluwewa, Rajangana, Vilachchiya, Manangkattiya, Mahakanadarawa, Nuwarawewa, Thissawewa, Wahalkada, Kalawewa and Angamuwa reservoirs in the Anuradhapura district and Minneriya, Kawudulla and Girithale reservoirs in the Polonnaruwa district, according to Minister Chandrasena.

Over 110,000 hectares of land come under the plough under major irrigation systems and 120,000 hectares under small irrigation systems in the Anuradhapura district.

One hundred forty five thousand hectares come under the plough under major irrigation systems and 100,000 hectares under small irrigation systems in the Polonnaruwa district every year, he said.