Hydropower plant to be built under the lower Malwathu Oya Project

Wednesday, 11 October 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management Palitha Range Bandara says it is planned to build a power plant under the lower Malwathu Oya reservoir project in addition to constructing the Malwathu Oya Reservoir which when completed will provide water to irrigate 40,000 acres of paddy fields in the dry zone.

Minister Range Bandara speaking at a function held at the ministry recently said the project planning should be done to reap maximum benefits to the country and to the people.

The proposed power plant will provide 4.68 GWh of electricity to the national grid. This project is being implemented with the fullest contribution of the Irrigation Department, the Minister said. He added that after the construction of the power plant, the responsibility for maintaining it will be handed over to the Ceylon Electricity Board.

The proposed Malwathu Oya Reservoir is located across the Malwathu Oya in Kappachchi which lies in the Anuradhapura and Vavuniya districts. This project envisages the construction of a 209 MCM capacity reservoir, 3,590-metre-long earth dam, radial gated spillway, left bank, right bank and river sluices and canal systems to the new settlement area and powerhouse.

A 13-kilometer long dam will be built across Malwathu Oya in Thanthirimale. Once constructed, Malwathu Oya reservoir will be the third largest reservoir in the country. The total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs. 13 billion.