Paddy lands in Kahatagasdigiliya get water
In order to irrigate about 1000 acres of paddy land badly effected by the present draught in Kahatagasdigiliya, water from the first stage of Ellapothana Anicut constructed by crossing the Yan Oya was released at a ceremony held under the patronage of Irrigation and Water Management Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva.
The work of the southern canal of Ellepothana Anicut which is being constructed in two stages at a cost of Rs.296 million had almost completed. Under this scheme water diverted from the Ellepothana Dam is to be distributed to about five tanks of the area through a newly constructed canal of 5.7 km.
The tanks to be irrigated under this new irrigation scheme are Ellepothanawewa, Simbalawawew,
Halmillapothanawewa, Wa-
Water diverted from the Ellepothana Dam is to be distributed to about five tanks of the area through a newly constructed canal of 5.7 km.
hagahapuwewa, and Kanhindiwewa. Three hundred and thirty seven farmer families will be benefited accordingly as water will be available for them to cultivate about 1,045 acres during both Yala and Maha seasons.
The Irrigation officers said it would be possible to complete the north canal under the 2nd stage of this scheme during next year. With the completion of another four tanks, the area would be fed by the water from Yan Oya enabling the irrigation of 819 acres of pad- dy fields benefiting 484 farmer families.The Yan Oya which commences from Ritigala and flows upto Pulmuddai hitherto fed only the Huruluwewa with its water but with the completion of the scheme 11 more tanks of medium and small would be supplied with the water for irrigation purposes. The Minister of Agrarian Services and Wild Life S. M. Chadrasena pioneered the new irrigation project.
The Ministers S.M. Chandrasena, Thissa Karalliyadda and the former NCP Chief Minister Berty Premalal and former provincial ministers K.H.Nandasena, and Sunil Gunarathna and several officers of the Irrigation Department also participated at the ceremonial water releasing ceremony.