Rs. 8 bn from WB for dam safety, water resource project

By Pabodha Hettige

The Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resource Management has taken steps to implement a dam safety and water resource planning project, covering 80 major dams in Sri Lanka.

The dams include Bowatenna, Uma Oya, Deduru Oya, Inginimitiya and Moragahakanda, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resource Management Nimal Siripala de Silva told the media yesterday.

"Thirty two dams have been identified as high risk for public safety and they are to be rehabilitated under dam safety and operational efficiency improvement," he said. The rest of the dams will be provided with basic safety facilities like inspection boats, power generators, road networks and necessary equipment.

For this, the government has already obtained a loan of Rs. 08 billion from the World Bank. "The rehabilitation of ten dams is already underway and the contracts for another seven will be awarded in the coming week," he said. The minister also handed over five mobile trucks equipped with modern technological devices for immediate repairs to dams. One mobile truck was presented to the Ceylon Electricity Board, while the Mahaveli Authority and the Department of Irrigation received two mobile trucks each. Those trucks will be stationed in five different locations of the country, the Minister said. The ministry plans to complete the rehabilitation of dams before the end of 2012.

The ministry is also planning to construct nearly 1,000 tube wells island wide to access the availability of underground water resources. "Coordination for efficient management of water infrastructure and hydro meteorological system should be upgraded with new knowledge, skills and modern management practices to address water related issues and damages," he said. The ministry will also take steps to prepare a master plan for national water use, a plan for Mahaveli water resource development and a development plan for Mundeni- Aru river basin, he said.

However, the Minister pointed out that, lack of well trained professionals is a hindrance to fast track these development initiatives. "The salary discrepancies have made many of the irrigation Engineers leave the field," he said. The government however has taken steps to increase the number of irrigation technical officers’ island wide.

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