Renovation of Dambuluoya, Kandalama reservoirs commences

The Dam Safety and Water Resources Planning Project (DSWRP) launched renovation works of Dambuluoya and Kandalama reservoirs recently.

The objective of the project is improving dam safety and operational efficiency. The project will attend to identified dam defects and other renovations.

The program involves uprooting of bushes and removing of risky dead trees from the dam, fully repairing the rip rap, repairing of sluice barrel, re-construction of toe drain, extending of gabion wall over highly eroded edges of the dam.

In addition, renovation is expected to repair the existing office building adjoining to the reservoir and to build bathing steps for public use. A separate contract is being awarded to install electro mechanical equipment to the spill gates in line with this renovation program.

The total cost of the program is Rs. 64 million and will be completed within this year. The renovation is closely supervised and monitored by the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka under the DSWRP. The renovations of Kandalama dam includes repairing of rip rap and sluices and placing remedial measures to leakages across the dam. In addition, a foot bridge will be constructed over the spill way of the Kandalama dam solving long felt transportation difficulties faced by the people in the area. The existing road which runs along the spill way of the dam is frequently blocked by the heavy water run-off at the spill of Kandalama dam.

The pre-preparation work of the rehabilitation projects of Tabbowa, Usgala, Siyabalangamuwa and Kantale dams are also under way. The DSWRP is a co-funded project of the World Bank and Sri Lankan Government and the total fund allocated for the project is Rs.7625 million. The project functions under the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources Management and will cover most of the high risk dams and will provide a safe and sustainable water resources management system for the future development of the country. GW