A discussion was held with Northern Province Members of Parliament regarding the Kivul Oya Reservoir Project under the patronage of Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, K.D. Lalkantha.
A discussion regarding the Kivul Oya Reservoir Project, chaired by Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha, was held with Northern Province Members of Parliament on the (17th) at the Parliament premises.
This project has already received approval of the Cabinet of Ministers, and the necessary financial allocations have also been made. However, as various protests have emerged raising objections regarding this matter, it was deemed more appropriate to discuss the existing issues with the Northern Province Members of Parliament, and therefore a decision was made to hold this discussion.
On this occasion, Minister Lalkantha stated that there is no intention to impose any project on the people by force, and that if any issues exist, they will be looked into and addressed. This time, financial allocations have been made to the Ministry for small and medium irrigation projects as well as for improving the economic status of the farming community. The allocated amount is Rs. 3,000 million. The Minister stated that a greater portion of these funds is expected to be utilized for irrigation rehabilitation in the Northern Province. He further mentioned that this decision was made in response to requests put forward by the people of the North to restore irrigation systems that were destroyed due to the war.
It was emphasized on this occasion that there is no plan to bring and settle people from other areas when implementing the Kivul Oya Reservoir Project. Accordingly, the benefits of the project will be received by the people who are currently residing there. No decision has been made to change the demographic ratio through any project.
The director of the project made a clear presentation regarding the Kivul Oya Reservoir Project, during which the issues related to the project were also presented. The people in the areas relevant to the project had been displaced by the military during the war. It was revealed that the original residents had been treated unjustly as a result of people from other areas being subsequently settled there for political purposes.
There are those who will benefit from the Kivul Oya Reservoir Project, as well as those who will be adversely affected by it. When implementing this project, attention should not be focused solely on the benefits it brings, but special consideration must also be given to the hardships faced by those who are negatively impacted by it.
The Northern Province Members of Parliament made a request to reconsider the Kivul Oya Reservoir Project. The Minister stated that steps will be taken to present this project to the District Coordinating Committee, and that further action will be carried out only in accordance with its recommendations.
The director of the project pointed out that in the areas covered by this project, farming activities are currently carried out only during the Maha season. He also pointed out that upon completion of the project, farming activities could be carried out in both the Yala and Maha seasons.
It was proposed at this occasion that it would be more convenient to prepare a prioritized list of projects relevant to commencing development activities in the district and present it to the District Coordinating Committee.
The Northern Province Members of Parliament expressed their appreciation to the Minister, stating that the opportunity provided by him to share views regarding the Kivul Oya Reservoir Project was a very valuable one, and that they were grateful for it.
Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation, Aravinda Senarath Vitharana, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, D.P. Wickremasinghe, and the relevant officials participated in this occasion.
