Kilinochchi, a hub of economic activities

By P. Krishnaswamy

The Kilinochchi district is being transformed into a hub of economic and livelihood activities and the Government is focussing on the day to day needs of the people while also concentrating on development activities, Government Agent (GA) for Kilinochchi Ms Rubawathy Ketheeswaran told the Sunday Observer.

The reconstructed Kalmadu bund

The Iranamadu Irrigation Development Project

De-mining has been completed in all residential areas and the resettled people have resumed their livelihood in an atmosphere of peace, brotherhood and democracy, she said. Marked improvements have been observed in the fields of education and health with all schools and hospitals fully functional, she said.

The provision of infrastructure facilities, mainly the road network to all areas and power supply, have also improved considerably, she said. Providing livelihood facilities under the Divi Neguma program and employment/training facilities are also the focus of the government, she said. A technical training college similar to the Sri Lanka German Technical College in Ratmalana will be set up soon in Kilinochchi for the benefit of the unemployed youth in the district, she said.

The following updates with regard to development activities in the district have been provided by her office:

A major part of the Iranamadu Irrigation Development project has been completed. The total cost of the project is US $ 29.32 million and the command area is 8,555 ha in the Karachchi and Kandawala Pradeshya Sabha (PS) divisions of the district. About 7,000 families will directly benefit under the project while a large number of families in other PS divisions and other districts of the Northern province will benefit indirectly.

A total of 68,612 anti-personnel mines, 325 anti-tank mines and

216,681 unexploded ordnances (UXO) have been cleared up to the end of November this year. A five sq. km area is presently under de-mining and only a 12 sq. km area is yet to be demined. The number of families that have been resettled is 40,557 comprising 131,114 members.

Under the decentralised capital budget, Rs. 8.575 million has been allocated for development activities by the six parliamentarians representing the district to implement 95 projects. Twenty-two of these projects have already been completed while 73 are nearing completion. Of the total requirement of 26,730 new houses, the Government has committed to build 18,699 houses and of the 6,349 houses that need to be repaired the Government has committed to repair 4,119. The balance houses to be built and repaired will be undertaken under future Government allocations.

Under the Water Sanitation Program, Rs. 12 million was allocated for the construction of toilets and Rs. 2.8 million was allocated for the construction of public wells. For the Zonal Education Office in Kilinochchi, Rs. 1572.571 million has been allocated for completing 120 education-related projects. A total amount of Rs. 1,749 million was spent in 2010, 2011 and 2012 on developing educational facilities which include construction/provision of class rooms, science labs, libraries, water sanitation, teacher center and zonal education office.

The midday meal is provided to 22,719 students of 98 schools, milk to 2,744 students of 18 schools and eggs to 3,591 students of 18 schools under the schoolchildren nutritional program.

Mahindodaya Labs have been provided to the KN/Bharathy Vidyalayam and the KN/Tharmapuram Maha Vidyalayam at a cost of Rs. 16 million. A total of 144 students have benefited under the Sipthora Scholarship scheme. Appointments have been given to 178 Samurdhi Development Officers this year. Rs. 14210.5 million has been allocated to the Road Development Authority for the renovation/construction of the Paranthan - Poonagary Road, Kandy - Jaffna Road, Navatkuli - Kerativu Road, Paranthan - Karachchi - Mullaitivu Road and non-RDA roads (under the rural road development program). Rs. 7.5 million has been allocated by the Road Development Department for the renovation/construction of the access road to Northern PC circuit bungalow, flood damage repairs and for the Akkarayankulam - Pallavarayankulam road sectors.

Under the Conflict Affected Region Emergency Project, Rs. 456.80 million has been allocated for the renovation/construction of the Murugandy - Akkarayankulam - Vanerikulam roads and for the Pudumurippu access road. For power supply projects under the 'Vadakkin Wasantham' development program, Rs. 5,297 Mn (total cost) has been allocated for Phase I. Under Phase II, for MV line, LV line and substations an amount of Rs. 4,000 Mn has been allocated.

Another Rs. 1,168.05 Mn has been allocated for 59 electricity schemes in the district.

A total amount of Rs. 740 million has been allocated under the program of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board for water supply to the Kilinochchi town, for rural water supply and for tube wells.

The allocation for the Jaffna - Kilinochchi Water Supply Project for 2013 is Rs. 18,328.19 million. The allocation ' for improving community-based rural water supply and sanitation in post-conflict areas of Jaffna and Kilinochchi' is Rs. 317.17 million. The allocation for the rehabilitation of the Kalmadu tank is Rs. 6.0 million.

The allocation for the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA), funded by the Ministry of Economic Development, for developing inland fishing, related construction work and distribution of canoes during the current year is Rs. 163.68 million. The allocation under the Department of Fisheries to the district for the issue of kerosene lamps, life jackets and fishing boats; for strengthening the cooperative societies and construction of the district fisheries office and other related work is Rs. 40.04 million.

The Palmyra Development Board, Kilinochchi Division, has allocated Rs. 6.605 million for palmyra development activities.

An amount of Rs. 37.369 million has been allocated for Rural Development Department for imparting training in beauty culture, home science and for livelihood grants/loans. Rs. 210.439 million has been allocated by the Ministry of Economic Development for 'Re-awakening Projects' including village development, flood damage repairing and minor tank work. A total amount of Rs. 182.78 million has been allocated for 14 projects under the Emergency Northern Recovery Project.

In the agricultural sector, Rs. 178 million has been allocated for 61 projects in the district for agrarian development while Rs.27.165 million has been allocated for agriculture development.

For various other activities related to agriculture such as; provision of cattle breeder farm, construction of cattle sheds, establishment of goat farm, pasture- fodder storage, pasture plots and supply of goats and poultry an amount of Rs. 86.611 million has been allocated.

For construction of culverts in Santhapuram, the re-opening of the Uruthirapuram drainage channel and drought relief, an allocation of Rs. 22.65 million has been provided. The Department of Cooperatives has been provided with Rs. 90.44 million for 18 projects on construction of rest halls, buildings and the purchase of equipment.

A total amount of Rs. 360.554 million has been allocated to the Regional Director of Health Services in Kilinochchi for implementing 14 projects. Until the end of October, an amount of Rs.316.63 has been utilised. All projects are expected to be completed soon.

Rs.421.81 million has been allocated by the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils to the Karachchi, Pachchilaipalli and Poonagari PSs for implementing 32 projects.

The total number of Samurdhi beneficiaries in the district is 11,733 and the number of bank societies is 285 with a membership of 14250. The allocation for livelihood projects in the spheres of agriculture, small industry, marketing, sales and livestock development is Rs. 9.57 million.