Fillip for settler income and living standards - DG

by L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

The Accelerated Mahaweli Development Project was one of the most successful projects implemented by the Government in recent history. It achieved almost all its set targets.

Hundred and sixty thousand hectares of land were cultivated by Mahaweli water and 144,000 families were settled in the Mahaweli areas, said Director General Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka, Dharmasiri Susith de Alwis.

Dharmasiri joined the Mahaweli Development Board as a Civil Engineer in 1970, one month after his graduation from Peradeniya University.

"One of the most important components of the Mahaweli project was the Mahaweli settlers who came from various parts of the island. We found it vital to implement a special program to uplift their lifestyles and healthcare which I had observed as an urgent necessity, he said.

He added that the Mahaweli Development Project includes, the largest integrated rural development program ever undertaken in Sri Lanka.

It was based on water resources of the Mahaweli and six allied river basins. The main objectives were increase of agricultural production hydropower generation, settlement of landless families, opening up of new employment opportunities and regional development", he said.

Engineer Dharmasiri who was inducted as the President of the prestigious Institution of Engineers of Sri Lanka last week said that Rs. 92.26 billion had been invested on the Mahaweli Development Program from 1970-2007.

Fifty four percent of this mega investment was utilized for the completion of the Kotmale, Victoria, Randenigala and Maduruoya reservoirs consisting power houses and the trans-basin irrigation division systems, he said.

"The hydro electricity generation was one of the vital achievements of the Mahaweli project. Fifty one percent of the national grid are supplied by Kotmale, Victoria, Ukuwela, Bowatenna, Randenigala, Rantambe and Udawalawe power stations, built under the Mahaweli Program, he pointed out.

The main economic activity in the Mahaweli area is agriculture. Twenty percent of the country's total rice requirements are fulfilled by the Mahaweli farmers. In addition subsidiary crops such as chillies, big onion and red onions are also cultivated by the Mahaweli farmers. Crop diversity is a conspicuous factor in Mahaweli farming.

By means of the modern agricultural techniques introduced by local and international experts, the Mahaweli farmers have been able to reap a richer harvest, the DG pointed out.

"Under the guidance of the Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena, the DG expects to implement a special program to upgrade agricultural crops, livestock and inland fisheries for improving the settler income and living standards shortly.

Moragahakanda-Kaluganga, the largest project under Mahaweli master plan is in progress.

This project is expected to argument, the national grid with the supply of 664.7 MW and provides drinking water to Mahaweli beneficiaries in addition to utilize its water for industrial purposes in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee districts.

Dharmasiri, however conceded that his village based primary schooling had a lasting effect in his future success.

He said that Sri Lanka's invaluable water resource must be secured. It should not be wasted, but managed by a systematic centralised irrigation system to make the optimal use of water.

Reconstruction and Rehabilitation work of small tanks which provide water for village farmers should be accelerated.

Twenty nine such tanks at Digamadulla were rehabilitated, he said. He also expects to rehabilitate 62 more small tanks in Udawalawe areas shortly.