Water for Maha season

Text and Picture – A.S.M. Irshad Colombo Fort Correspondent

The water from the rehabilitated Kanakambikaikulam in Karachchi DS division, Kilinochchi was ceremonially released to the irrigation channels by parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa with the participation of Governor of Northern Province G.A. Chandrasiri on 2 November 2012 for Maha Season.

The Kanakambikaikulam was restored in 1961-1963 to irrigate 260 acres of land, owning by 105 farm families. For a long-period, no major improvements were done to this tank and as a result in the recent past the water holding capacity of this reservoir was lesser than the design capacity.

Further the condition of the tank bunds were worsen due to the past conflict situation of this region.

After the normalcy returns to the North in May 2009, with all other developments many including tanks were renovated since then under the “Vadakkin Vasantham” (Northern Spring) development program.

At the request of the Governor G.A. Chandrasiri, Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa has allocated Rs. 17.0 million through Emergency Northern Recovery Project (EnReP).

Under the supervision of the Irrigation Department the rehabilitation worked was commenced in August 2011 and completed in mid-2012.

With the onset of monsoon, the tank was filled with water.