THABBOWA RESERVOIR DAM REPAIRS ON PAUSE BUTTON
Farmers in limbo threaten protest campaign
Farmer organisations in the Puttalam district have warned that they would resort to a massive protest campaign if the government failed to have the renovations to the dam in the Thabbowa Reservoir completed to irrigate their paddy fields in the Maha season.
During a meeting with senior officials of the Irrigation Department, representatives of farmer organisations in the district pointed out the project costing Rs. 194 million funded jointly by the World Bank and the government had been undertaken by a private company about two years ago, but that the contractor had failed to complete the project on the due date.
The progress review meeting was held at the Thabbowa residential manager’s office under the chairmanship of the Zonal Director of Irrigation T. P. Alwis. Representatives of farmer organisations said thousands of paddy cultivators had abandoned
The Thabbowa farmer colony was inaugurated in 1928 by then Minister of Agriculture D.S.Senanayake with 29 families. It is today highly populated with about 1000 farmer families. Farmers say the tank will not fill during the next monsoon unless repairs to the dam are completed immediately
their paddy fields for want of irrigation facilities for over one year. They complained that the authorities have ignored the predicament of the farm- ers who had lost their means of a livelihood. “The farmers would have no alternative but commit suicide with others of their families if the authorities continue to ignore their situation. The Thabbowa farmer colony inaugurated in 1928 by then Minister of Agriculture D. S. Senanayake with 29 families, is today a highly populated area with about 1000 farmer families. Farmer organisations have made continual representations to the relevant authorities and even the contractors regarding the delay in completing the restoration of the reservoir, but to no avail. It will not be possible to fill the tank during the next monsoon unless repairs to the dam are completed immediately,” the representatives said.
Zonal Director of Irrigation T. P. ALwis who admitted the delay in the work on the dam said he had been egging the contractor company to complete the project. “However, when the contractor failed to show any progress, I reported the delay to the ministry for instructions. I will take steps soon to provide irrigation facilities for the next Maha season.”