Moneragala, a model district, Uva Chief Minister's aim

By Naalir Jamaldeen

"Mega infrastructure and livelihood development projects have been launched in the Moneragala district. Work on most of the projects have been completed while some are still on. Several projects will be implemented shortly. On completion the Moneragala district will be a model district", Uva Province Chief Minister Shashindra Rajapaksa said.

He was addressing a workshop organised by the Government Information Department in Moneragala for the Provincial Journalists in the district under the theme "The Role of Provincial journalists for district development".

Rajapaksa said that maximum benefit from infrastructure development projects could be obtained only when infrastructure and livelihood development projects are implemented at the same time.

"After assuming duties as the Chief Minister, the challenge faced with was to draft plans for long, medium and short term development projects. I obtained assistance from the Central Government, Local Government bodies and the private sector institutions to implement those projects" Rajapaksa said.

He said that Rs. 5,600 million will be spent under the Uva Viduli Udanaya program to address the electricity problem in the province. The Cabinet has granted approval for this project. Three hundred transformers were fixed at various locations under the first phase.

Only 56 percent of households had electricity in 2009, but today 82 percent of people have electricity. Moves are under way to supply electricity to 95 percent by the end of next year, Rajapaksa said.

"Supplying electricity through cables will be a difficult task because these people live in hilly areas and in remote villages. The investment costs will be high when compared to the number of families living in those areas", he said.

As an alternative move solar power projects will be implemented jointly with the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the Alternative Energy Authority, he said. The Moneragala district receives electricity from other districts such as Badulla, Ampara, Ratnapura and Hambantota, he said.

"There has been a need for a sub station. Around Rs. 1,800 million will be needed for this project. A sub station will be set up in Maduruketiya in Moneragala, which will supply electricity to the entire district.

Drinking water is the other problem which should be addressed promptly. Although the supply of pipe borne drinking water to the entire district is a difficult task, a large number of community based drinking water supply projects do function in the district, Rajapaksa said.

Several drinking water supply projects will be launched jointly with the Water Supply and Drainage Ministry and the Uva Province Water Supply and Drainage Ministry such as Buttala-Moneragala, Badalkumbura-Piessa and Kiri Ibbanwewa drinking water supply projects, he said.

Once the project is over the people in the Moneragala, Buttala, Wellawaya, Thanamalvila, Sevanagala and Bibile towns will benefit, the Chief Minister noted.

Steps have been taken to implement Siyambalanduwa-Muthupandiya drinking water supply projects soon, he said.

Water from natural water bases and springs will also be taken to address the drinking water problem of people in the district. Plans have been drafted jointly with the Water Supply and Drainage Ministry to implement such drinking water supply projects. Nearly 60 percent house holds in the Moneragala will receive pipe borne drinking water when these projects are completed, the Chief Minister said.