Minister Thondaman chairs DDC meeting

by P. Rajaratnam in Nuwara Eliya

Minister of Livestock Development and Member of Parliament for Nuwara Eliya Arumugam Thondaman, who presided over the Nuwara Eliya District Development Committee meeting held at the Nuwara Eliya Government Secretariat thanked the Government of Mahinda Rajapaksa for giving him the opportunity to chair the District meeting in Nuwara Eliya.

He pointed out the fact that such privileges were only possible under the Mahinda Chinthanaya. The meeting which was held at the new District Secretariat with the Government Agent, D.G.P. Kumarasiri, where all heads of departments, local bodies, Members of Parliament Messers.

Muthu Sivalingam, V. Radhakrishnan, P. Rajadurai, Shri Renga, the Chief Secretary of the Central Province, Amarakoon and others except the Engineer of the Road Development, Norwood. Mr. Arumugam Thondaman rebuking against such absentees, said that this was an important conference held twice a month or so in an year, in order to assess and analyse the various works undertaken in the whole district, and hence it was important for all heads of departments attend the conference, he directed the District Secretary to call for explanation from this officer.

The conference went into all development aspects relating to Nuwara Eliya, Maskeliya, Hanguranketha, Walapone and Kotmale, relating to Irrigation, education, Road Developments and other allied matters.

The discussions centred around growing ginger on a large scale, in Maturata, Walapone in the Marigold areas, which has an enormous potential for export earning crops.

The discussions also made a focal point on developing fresh water fishery, considering the vast areas of giant water reservoirs in the district, since fresh water fisheries should be developed and harnessed in view of the district residents suffering from malnutrition particularly in the plantation sector.

The conference further discussed the issues where the vegetable and potato cultivation could be undertaken in the identified areas in the plantation sector.