Govt. spends billions on livelihood, infrastructure development:

Safe drinking water, sanitation for North and East

By Mohammed Naalir

The Government is committed to improve the living and economic standards of resettled refugees in the North while assuring them a healthy life. The economy is now in bloom in the region. The Northern Province which was once a ghost city is turning into a hub of prosperity.

The Government has spent billions of rupees on livelihood and infrastructure development projects in the North and the East. Several major development projects are nearing completion.

The Government is also focusing on providing safe drinking water to the resettled refugees in the North. The Economic Development Ministry and the Water Supply and Drainage Ministry have implemented several water supply projects in the resettled areas in Vavuniya, Mannar, Jaffna and the Mullaitivu districts.

According to the Water Supply and Drainage Ministry sources the Nedunkerni water supply project has been implemented at a cost of Rs. 175.60 million and over 5,000 families under the project will benefit.

The Ministry sources said: "The projects are being launched in Paddikudiyiruppu, Katkulam, Nedunkerni South and North, Olumadu, Mamadu, Kulavisuddan and Marilluppai Grama Niladari Divisions in the Vavuniya North Divisional Secretariat Division in the Vavuniya district. When the project is completed over 5,000 people will benefit.

"The projects comprise rehabilitation of the existing scheme, construction of the elevated 225m 3 tower, office buildings, stores and staff quarters, laying of transmission and distribution main, construction of pump house and installation of M and E equipment.

"The Thevanpiddy water supply project implemented at a cost of Rs. 168 million is launched in Thevanpiddy, Vellankulam and Palliaru Grama Niladari Divisions in the Manthai West Divisional Secretariat Division. When the project is completed over 2,900 people will benefit.

The Adampan water supply project

The water tower construction site at the Thevanpiddy water supply project.

"The Viddattaltivu water supply project, implemented at a cost of Rs. 204 million is in Vidattaltivu Central, Vidattaltivu West, Vidattaltivu North, Vidattalativu East and Kovilkulam Grama Niladari Divisions in the Manthai West Divisional Secretariat Division in Mannar.

"The Valvettithurai water supply project has been implemented at a cost of Rs. 348.57 million. When the project is completed 10,000 people in Thondamanaru North, Kirudavil South and North, Valvettithurai Northwest, North Central and North East, Polikandi West and East and Kampamali in Point Pedro Divisional Secretariat Division will benefit.

The Maruthankerney water supply project comprises the construction of tanks with a capacity of 1,800 litres of water, a 10 kilometre long transmission and distribution system, pump house and installation of M and E equipments. The total estimated cost of the project is Rs. 25.82 million, Ministry sources said.

The Water Supply and Drainage Ministry along with the Economic Development Ministry has implemented the Pandiyankulam water supply project at a cost of Rs. 298.53 million. Over 2,260 people in Pandiyankulam, Karumpuliyan, Puvarasankulam, Punagar and Vinayagapuram in the Mullaitivu district will benefit from the project. The Oddusuddan water supply project includes Muthaiyankaddukulam, Thandiyamalai, Muthuvinayagarkulam, Ganeshapuram, Katchilmadu, Vitthiyapuram, Pandarawanni, Pearu, Kulamurippu, Karuvelankandal, Oddusuddan, Periyamadu, K/Samalankulam and the Thanduvan Grama Niladari Divisions in the Manthai West Divisional Secretariat Division. Over 10,700 people in the Grama Niladari divisions will benefit when the ongoing projects are completed.

The Mallavi water supply project has been implemented at a cost of Rs. 292.24 million. The project includes Thunukkai, Mallavi, Yogapuram (Centre), Anichchankulam and Therankandal Grama Niladari Divisions in the Thunukkai Divisional Secretariat Division. Over 4,500 residents in the Grama Niladari Divisions will benefit.

The Jaffna-Kilinochchi water supply project is to be implemented by the Government to provide safe drinking water to the people in the Northern province under the "Uthuru Wasanthaya" accelerated Northern development drive implemented under the Mahinda Chinthanaya. When the project is completed over 300,000 people in the North will benefit.

There is a Municipal Council, three Urban Councils and 13 Pradeshiya Sabas in the Jaffna district and four Pradeshiya Sabas in Kilinochchi. The Jaffna district comprises a population of 650,720 and Kilinochchi 140,145 people.

US dollars 164.04 million will be spent on the project, expected to be completed by June 2016, Ministry sources said. Parallel to the Jaffna Kilinochchi water supply project, sewerage, sanitation and irrigation facilities will be developed.

The objective of the Jaffna Kilinochchi water supply project is to reduce poverty and improve the living standards of the rural communities and provide safe drinking water and sanitation to the refugees in Jaffna and Kilinochchi. Another aim is to improve community-based rural water supply and sanitation in post-conflict areas of Jaffna and Kilinochchi.

An officer of National Water Supply and Drainage Board said 1,900 poor rural households will be provided safe drinking water and 550 rural households will benefit by the new low-cost sanitation system with septic tanks. Two hundred people have been trained in water supply and sanitation and financial management, 1,900 households have been educated on hygiene awareness and water conservation and 1,000 people have been trained in cash-for work programs.

The Iyakachchi water supply project completed in December 2012 was commissioned on January 1.

The goal of the Jaffna-Kilinochchi water supply project, is improved health and human development in the urban and Predeshiya Sabha areas of Jaffna and Kilinochchi. It will help in rehabilitating, reconstructing and developing the areas affected by the conflict.

The water supply project will benefit 300,000 residents and the Sewerage Reticulation System including the treatment plant and effluent disposal reuse system will be effected in the most densely populated areas of the Jaffna Municipality and the University, benefiting 80,000 residents. If effluent disposal reuse system is not feasible, sea outfall will have to be considered for implementation, Ministry sources said.

Accordingly US$ 92.55 million for water supply, US$ 35.64 million for sewerage and sanitation facilities and US$ 10.63 million for the Iranamadu reservoir improvement will be allocated. A sum of US$ 2.64 million for the Jaffna water resource management, US$ 5.58 million for capacity building, US$ 11.67 million for contingencies and US$ 5.33 million for financing charges during implementation will be spent. While US $ 90 million will be funded by the Asian Development Bank, Agency for Francaise De Development and the Government of Sri Lanka will fund US $ 48 million and US$ 34.04 million, Water Supply and Drainage Ministry sources said.

The Government is committed to look into the well-being of the resettled people in the North. Now the Northern region is experiencing a surge of returnees and economic activities in the region have increased, Ministry source said.