Rs. 3.6 b project to overcome Jaffna’s water shortages

• Cabinet approves Rs. 3,609 m river projects for Jaffna
• Plans to provide 8 million cubic metres of fresh water per year

A river project for Jaffna was approved by Cabinet this week, with the objective of overcoming the water shortage in the peninsula.

The project which will be carried out at the cost of Rs. 3,609 million will be implemented in two phases over a period of five years.

The project includes plans to reduce salinity in wells bordering the Vadamarachchi Lagoon, increasing the water for agriculture by providing eight million cubic meters of fresh water per year to the said area, and increasing the water availability for drinking and domestic purposes.

The project will also assist in developing 12,610 hectares of unutilised lands and 1,315 hectares of lands used for paddy, field crops, plantation and grazing purposes and over 300,000 people are expected to benefit from this.