Water scarcity in Vavuniya, a thing of the past

By P. Krishnaswamy

Excavation of one section of the reservoir

Pipe-laying work in progress at Veppankulam

Road construction nearing completion near the project site

Pipe-laying work in progress in Vavuniya town

Construction of the causeway

The Government is now fast tracking the Rs.5,800 Mn ADB assisted Per Aru Dry Zone Water Supply and Sanitation Project in Vavuniya which would benefit over 16,000 families in 10 villages on completion at the end of next year, Vavuniya Government Agent (GA) Bandula Harischandra told the Sunday Observer. This is one of the major projects undertaken in the district in the recent years and will contribute immensely to the livelihood and economic well-being of the people, he said.

The project is mainly aimed at resolving the water-scarcity problem in the urban areas of the district and is an integral component of the larger ADB Assisted Dry Zone Urban Water and Sanitation Project to the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) with the intention of facilitating sustainable development in disadvantaged districts in Sri Lanka, the GA said. By 2035 the project will benefit over 24,000 families, according to forecasts, he said. The reservoir and the water treatment plant are located in the Sastrikoolamkulam Grama Niladhari Division in the Vavuniya Division of the district .

Assistance from all stakeholders, including the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Water Supply and Drainage, the Central Environmental Authority, the Departments of Agriculture and Agrarian Development, the Forest Department, the Vavuniya Tamil Pradeshiya Sabha and the Timber Corporation, were obtained for launching the project. In keeping with the Government policy, people whose lands or houses were inundated under the project were either paid adequate compensation or have been resettled in houses built for them at other places at huge expenditure, the GA said.

Ground water

The fund allocations and contract periods in relation to surface water development, ground water development, construction of houses for the displaced people, construction of causeway and other details as provided by the Director Development of the Vavuniya Secretariat are given below:

An amount of Rs. 958 Mn has been allocated for the constructions of the causeway, the bund, access road and by roads and for the tail canal excavation. The work is in progress. Rs. 53.22 Mn has been allocated for ground water development and the contract period is six months. Rs. 2180 Mn has been allocated for the construction of the storage structures and for the water treatment plants. The work is in progress. Rs. 926 Mn has been allocated for transmission (21 km) and distribution main (139 km) and the work is in progress.

The pipe- laying for the 48 km distance and pressure testing for 38 km have already been completed. Rs. 16.3 Mn has been allocated for the construction of public conveniences and renovation of the existing seepage treatment plant at Pampaimadu. The contract period is six months. Rs. 179.95 Mn has been allocated for the extension of distribution main (84 km pipe laying) and the work is nearing completion. The allocation on household sanitation programs is Rs.35 Mn and a total of 178 families from 18 Grama Niladhari Divisions have been selected as beneficiaries under the program.

For the families whose agricultural lands were inundated under the project, the process of providing alternative land is now in progress under an MoU signed with the Agrarian Department. Payments have already been made for alternative paddy land preparation such as , levelling, land ripping, cross ripping and dyke formation.

Under this program, red soil in alternative lands will be made suitable for paddy cultivation under the guidance of soil scientists. Causeways across the Per Aru river are being constructed to provide access to the alternative lands.

Livelihood

About 810 acres of state and private lands were required in the Vavuniya district for the water supply source augmentation and water treatment plant.

The inundation area of 804 acres include paddy land, highland, forestland and 216 acres of environmental buffer zone. 163 acres of land with different tenure ship were being used for paddy cultivation. Based on the paddy Land Register and land survey there are an estimated 107 farm families who lose their lands.

Private and common properties identified within the reservoir full supply level boundary with environmental buffer zone (71m MSL contour +100m buffer zone) and within the proposed Water Treatment Plant site are not significant. Only 3 temporary houses, six masonry wells, five earth wells and two Hindu temples have been identified within the said boundary. Land acquisition for the sub project in Vavuniya caused economic displacement of agricultural families and thus affects their livelihood largely. Economic displacement due to the project is being mitigated via providing alternative land with equal status or better. The affected ground level of the Hindu temple is being raised up to the bund level with adequate space for ritual activities and vehicle parking on top of the bund.

Lump sum payments

The District Secretariat made arrangements to provide lands to the three affected households for the construction of new houses and the project bears the cost of construction. The work has been completed. The District Administration has identified alternative paddy lands in Katkulam, Muthaliyarkulam and Pathiyakulam close to the affected area and highland close to Suntharapuram.

The paddy land owners of the 163 acres are being given alternative paddy lands at the identified locations to commence cultivation for the Maha season to avoid causing disruption to livelihood. Complementary mitigation and enhancement activities have been incorporated in the resettlement plan to protect and help to improve the livelihoods of socially and economically vulnerable groups.

Vulnerable households have been provided additional assistance on a priority basis through employment in the project plus a lump sum payments. The Resettlement Plan for Vavuniya has been prepared according to the National Involuntary Resettlement Policy (2001) and the ADB Safeguard Policy Statement 2009. The land owners who lose land due to the project are being compensated at replacement value or land- for-land where feasible.

The surface water reservoir with the storage capacity of 3.85 MCM will provide 6,700 m3/day of treated water. The said reservoir is constructed across Per Aru at Sastrikoolamkulam near Puthukulam, 12 km North of Vavuniya town. A water treatment plant to handle the above treatment capacity is also being built at close proximity to the reservoir. The construction of the impounding reservoir will result in approximately 804 acres of lands being flooded below 71m MSL contour up to 2.5 km upstream of the proposed dam site.

The transect walks and confirmation from Project preparation engineers show that there are no impacts on permanent structures. There are also no expected livelihood impacts if mitigation measures identified in the environmental assessment documents are applied to ensure access. Shop keepers will be assisted through the provision of access planks by contractors.

There were an estimated 233 shop keepers identified along the minor roads and main roads in Vavuniya. The shops along these roads are categorized as textiles, hotels, grocery, jewellery, garage, book shops and hotels.

The shop keepers are being assisted in moving to the other side of the road and in putting up their structures after the construction of the reservoir is completed. There were about 53 hawkers engaged in selling cloths, foods, vegetables and fruits along the minor roads and in Vavuniya. They too are being provided with similar assistance for relocation.