Mega water supply projects launched

L.S. Ananda Wedaarachchi

Several water supply projects costing billion rupees are implemented islandwide, said Water Supply Minister Mahinda Amaraweera.

The ten billion rupee Batticaloa water supply project funded by the Government and the Asian Development Bank will be commissioned early next year, he said.

The Batticaloa water supply project was launched immediately after the liberation of the Eastern Province from LTTE terrorists. Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Muttur will have drinking water after commencing the project, he said.

He said that the Jaffna peninsula water supply project has been finalised and it will be commissioned after clearing landmines in the area around the Iranamadu Tank.

ADB had agreed to finance the project in 2004 and it was postponed due to LTTE terrorist activities in the area. This project was estimated at Rs. 8 bilion in 2004. ADB was still wiling to finance the project, he said.

He said that Iranamadu Tank is the only water resource in the North to be used for water supply schemes. At present 12 small-scale water supply schemes were in operation in Jaffna utilising ground water, he said.

He said that water to the Colombo-Kelani River south bank project also was progressing. The people who were living in high elevation lands in Colombo and Gampaha districts will benefit from the project, he said.

The Project Director ADB Project Unit NWSDB, A. Hapuaarachchi said under the secondary towns and rural community based water supply and sanitation project safe drinking water will be provided to 829,000 people in Batticaloa, Hambantota, Trincomalee, Muttur, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura districts.

Sanitation facilities will be provided to 171,500 people in these districts, he said. According to the Project Director the total cost of the project was Rs. 19.27 billion.

The World Water Day falls today, the 22 March and a special ceremony under the patronage of Water Supply Minister Mahinda Amaraweera will be held at the BMICH. The theme for World Water Day, this year is shared water-shared opportunities.

An international day to celebrate fresh water was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).

Objectives of the project

* Provide safe water to 829,000 people and sanitation to 171,500 people in five districts of Sri Lanka.

* Capacity building and strengthening the water sector institutions

*Improve the knowledge of communities on water and health through public awareness campaigns

* Conserve environment with a view to protect catch ments of water bodies.

* Training and development of the water utility staff