Allal project to benefit 10,000 families

by Anura Maitipe

The Re-Awakening project has expedited rehabilitation work on the Allal project with Rs. 200 million assistance from the World Bank in the Trincomalee district, Project Director P.H. Sugathadasa told the Sunday Observer.

The Allal irrigation tank, about 35 kilometres from the south of Trincomalee Town provides irrigation facilities to over 7,000 hectares of fertile lands in Mutur, Seruvila and the Echchillampaththu Divisional Secretariats.

The canals are filled with mud and effluents due to non rehabilitation for a long period and over 1,000 acres of cultivatable lands have been neglected as a result.The spill causeway of this tank has also been damaged due to lack of proper maintenance during the past few decades. With the completion of this project farmers will be able to cultivate the neglected paddy lands.

Under this project 26.73 kilometres of main canals and 66 kilometres of distribution canals will be rehabilitated. The 3.3 kilometre long bund and 300 metre long spill causeway will also be upgraded to increase the capacity of the tank.

The damaged wooden gates of Mawil Aru will be replaced with new radial gates. The Kallar canal and Verugal Aru bridge will also be rehabilitated. Rehabilitation work on this project will be completed by 2010.

With the completion of this project more arid lands in the area will be irrigated and over 10,000 families who had been re-settled in these areas with the restoration of peace in the East will benefit.