Work on the main dam of the Yan Oya project is nearing completion. Water will be fed to the main reservoir by 2018, said Yan Oya Project Deputy Director, Engineer Palitha Wickramathilaka.
The reservoir is constructed building a dam across 135 Km long Yan Oya which starts in Seegiriya and flows to the sea from Pulmoddai in the Eastern Province.
China CAMC Engineering Corporation and Irrigation and Water Resources Management Department together are constructing the Yan Oya reservoir.
Engineer Wickramathilaka said 85 percent of the main dam construction is over. Wildlife Department, Forest Conservation Department, Geological and Mines Bureau, Archaeological Department and many other government institutions have extended their support for the project. He said 600 hundred families affected by the project in the Anuradhapura and Trincomalee districts would be relocated in Kajuwatte and Omarakada.
Work on houses with infrastructure has been commenced, he said.
The project, costing Rs. 36 billion allocated through local funds, aims to increase crop intensity in the Yala and Maha seasons in Padaviya in Anuradhapura and facilitates villagers with drinking water.
Setting up of new farmer colonies in Trincomalee, including Gomarankadawala and supplying drinking water to Trincomalee are also targets of the project. Farmers in Kebithigollewa, Welioya and Medawchchiya will benefit. The project includes two main irrigation channels along the banks of Yan Oya and an anicut dam to release surplus water to nearly 20 kilometres channels. The anicut scheme will feed more than 50 medium and micro scale tanks.
The reservoir with a capacity of 254 million cubic metres will provide water to 5,000 hectare benefiting 10,000 farmer families.
“Work on the 5.6 Km long main dam connecting Yakinikanda in Horowpothana and Labukanda in Gomarankadawala in Trincomalee commenced in January last year. We have completed 85 percent although the scheduled date is in 2018,” said CAMC Sri Lanka representative Richard Zheng. He said the application of technology and machines and assistance by the Irrigation Department have caused the swift progress of the project.
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