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Friday, August 06, 2010 - 10.10 GMT |
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Priority for
rapid irrigation development, preserving
flora and fauna - President |
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that top priority should be given to expand irrigation development to ensure proper water facilitation to farmers in all parts of the country. However, this should be done while preserving enough vegetation for the elephants and other wild life.
Speaking at the Progress Review Meeting of the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources at Temple Trees today (August 06), President Rajapaksa emphasized the importance of early completion of major irrigation scheme such as Moragahakanda, Maduru Oya, Rajanganaya, Uma Oya, Walawa Ganga, Kalu Ganga and Malwathu Oya.
Minister of Irrigation and Water resources, Nimal Siripala de Silva said that the Ministry, under the Mahinda Chintana, envisages the utilization of water from the current level of 12,000 million cubic meters to 13,600 million cubic meters within the next five years. He said the current utilization is only 35 percent of the available water.
The Minister added that a Water Resource Plan is being formulated to minimize water wastage by increasing utilization during the next two decades.
President Rajapaksa instructed the officials to expedite deeds presentation to farmers who have been given state land for farming. Secretary to the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources said that about 100,000 such deeds are to be finalized and half of them would be completed within the next two years.
The President said that irrigation projects should be entrusted to the institutions under the Ministry and other local institutions whenever possible. He added that local capacities should be utilized to the maximum and there should not be additional examinations for qualified engineers before recruiting them for employment in the irrigation projects in the Ministry.
Deputy Minister S M Chandrasena, Treasury Secretary Dr P B Jayasundara, Secretary to the Ministry of Irrigation & Water Resources Ivan de Silva and senior officials were present at the Progress Review Meeting.
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