Uma Oya multi-purpose development project:

Facelift for Moneragala district and environs

by Naalir Jamaldeen

The Government has implemented a large number of livelihood and infrastructure development projects in the Moneragala district. Most of these projects are complete, Moneragala Additional District Secretary E.K.A. Suneetha said.

The tunnel being cleared

Interior of the tunnel

A giant tunnel boring machine

A construction site

She said that attention has been focussed to develop human resources through education. The goal of sustainable development can be achieved only when infrastructure and livelihood development projects are implemented simultaneously. Housing and drinking water problems in the district have been addressed to a great extent.

While addressing a workshop organised for Provincial Journalists in the Moneragala district by the Government Information Department under the theme "The Role of Provincial Journalists for the district development", Suneetha said that the Moneragala district which was a remote district is achieving tremendous growth in various sectors and has recorded growth in a short period after 2005.

She said the Uma Oya multi-purpose development project will improve the economy and livelihood of people in the Moneragala district and some parts of Badulla and Hambantota districts will also benefit.

We visited Uma Oya Multipurpose Developing Project, FARAB Energy and Water project. The project site is located in a hilly area along the Moneragala-Welimada road. Tunnel boring takes place smoothly in an environment friendly way. The construction site observed from time to time by the experts in the sector. Oxygen is sent by huge tubes inside the tunnel.

The project diversion of Uma Oya at Rantambe, construction of dams and reservoirs to support power generation and releasing excess water to solve the irrigation and drinking water problems in the district.

A large sketch in the Moneragala district and certain areas in the Badulla and Hambantota will also benefit from this project.

Giant machineries are used in the tunnel boring process.

The Uma Oya flows from Nuwara-Eliya district to Rantambe and where electricity is generated. The excess water is released to Kirindi Oya at Rantambe and going to sea any use.

The intention of the Government is to get the excess water of Uma Oya for electricity generation while facilitating irrigation and thereby to improve the livelihood of people in Moneragala district, according to Project Director of Uma Oya Multi-Purpose Development Project Dr. Sunil de Silva.

He said that certain parts in the Badulla district also experience shortage of water.

A large number of people in the Moneragala district undergo severe shortage of water. On the completion of the project the people in Moneragala and others who experience the shortage of water will benefit. A part of the Hambantota district will also benefit.

Two reservoirs will be constructed at Puhulpola and Dyrabaa and will be linked through a tunnel. FARAB - a construction company is involved in tunnel boring and constructing Puhulpola and Dyrabaa reservoirs.

There is a shaft in nearly 700 metres. A surge shaft will be constructed to bear the pressure. All these works will be carried out by the FARAB, Dr. Silva said.

He said that the construction work of Puhulpola reservoir is getting delay as the people in the are want to be relocated.

FARAB has estimated the project cost to US$ 529 million. US$ 450 million will be granted by the Iranian Government at low interest. The Government will invest US$ 79 million for the project, he said.

He said that 120 MW electricity will be generated using two turbines and each with 60 MW capacity. Through this process it is hoped to divert cubic 140-150 million cubic metres water and to produce 230-250 GW hours per year. Two hundred fifty million MW electricity per year from the underground electricity generation plant, according to the Project Director.

The project plan has been drafted to minimise environmental disaster. A feasibility study was also conducted in the areas which come under the project to prevent natural disasters. A tunnel will be constructed measuring nearly 15.5 kilometres.

The Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project consists of construction of two dams across two main branches of Uma Oya at Welimada and Dyrabaa and a 23 -km- long trans basin diversion tunnel with an underground power station at Randeniya.

The tail race will discharge water to the Alikota Ara which is a tributary of Kirindi Oya.

A regulating reservoir will be constructed across Alikota Ara and then water will be transferred to a new reservoir at Kuda Oya which will regulate and distribute water for irrigation works in the right bank of Kirindi Oya.

Part of the water will be released to Kirindi Oya and this water will be regulated at the existing Handapanagala tank on left bank of Kirindi Oya and in order to accommodate the water from the diversion, the tank bunt of Handapanagala will also be raised by 8 m. Nearly 14 minor irrigation tanks will be fed by the diverted water from Uma Oya, he said.

Dr. Silva said that There will come a nearly four kilometer long tunnel to release the water after generating electricity. The water will be released to Ali kota Ara reservoir in Wellawaya Divisional Secretariat Division in the Moneragala district. A reservoir will also be constructed at Ali Kota Ara, the work on the project has already begun. Two reservoirs will be constructed in Kuda Oya and Ali Kota Ara. The content area of Handapanagala reservoir will be increased by raising the bunt by eight foot.

A canal will be dug and a reservoir will be constructed at Kuda Oya. Water will be released from the reservoir to Kuda Oya reservoir. From Kuda Oya reservoir water will be supplied to the areas which are severely affected by drought or shortage of water. Sinhalayagama, Nagollampalassa and Mahagalwewa areas will easily receive water. These areas are vulnerable to elephants. And a special mechanism will be drafted jointly with Wildlife, Forest Reservation Departments, Respective Divisional Secretaries, and Irrigation Department to solve this problem, Dr. Silva said.

In addition Rs. 6 Billion will be required for other expenditures. Another nine billion will be required for other works including the construction of reservoirs and canals. Another Rs. 15 billion will be required for the upside development. Dr. Sunil de Silva noted. , Uma Oya Multi Purpose Development Project.

The Irrigation and Water Resources Development Ministry, Ceylon Electricity Board, in addition the down stream works are carried out jointly with the Irrigation Department by the Sri Lankan Engineers, he said.

Trans-basin diversion of 145 million cubic metres of water from the Uma Oya basin to the Kirindi Oya to alleviate the water scarcity in the southern dry zone without affecting the water users and environment in the Uma Oya Basin and generate electricity using the potential between the two basins.

Increase agriculture production in 6,000 hectares existing and new lands, addition of 231 million cubic metres of industrial and drinking water to Moneragala and Hambantota districts, livestock and inland fisheries development, increase in water spread area and improvement in ground water table, employment opportunities for a large number of skilled and unskilled personnel and knowledge transfer of modern technology.

Two dams will be constructed across Dalgolla, Puhulpola, Welimada and another dam across Mathailla Oya Dyrabaa, 3,795 m long link tunnel and 15,500 m long headrace tunnel, 200 m high surge tank and 600 m high pressure Shaft, underground power station with 120 MW electricity installed capacity, 3,600 m long tailrace tunnel and 26 km long 132 kw transmission line to Badulla GSS.

USD 450 million is funded by the Government of Islamic Republic of Iran and the balance by the Government of Sri Lanka.

Iranian Government has funded a number of development projects in Sri Lanka. In 2010 they agreed to post US$ 450-500 million for the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project, a 90-100 megawatt hydroelectric power plant around the Central Province. Iran has also invested in Sri Lankan Oil refineries and its investments have helped to double Sri Lankan Oil production capacity. Iran has also invested on rural electrification projects, he added.