1,000-tank project to be expedited

by Uditha KUMARASINGHE

The Government will expedite the Dahasak Maha Weu project with the participation of the farmer community to complete the rehabilitation of 10,000 tanks by 2020 under its new water resources management program.

According to the Dahasak Maha Weu program, 1,000 tanks will be completed annually at an estimated cost of Rs.500 million, an irrigation Ministry spokesman told the Sunday Observer.

Water will be supplied to about 200,000 acres to increase the cropping intensity of existing lands and productivity of new cultivable lands, he said.

An additional 100,000 hectares are due to be cultivated by 2018 under the new program.

Most of these lands are in the Dry Zone - the North, North Central, East, Uva, Wayamba and Southern provinces.

The spokesman said the requisite investment for water resources development will be made with foreign funds.

While the Moragahakanda and Uma Oya projects are funded by donor countries,the Government has made a substantial contribution to its designing and preliminary studies.

The funds for the proposed projects will be from prospective donors. Private sector investors will be encouraged to invest in eco-tourism and agri-business where returns on investment are attractive, he said.