The Moragahakanda multi-purpose development project was vested in the public a short while ago by President Maithripala Sirisena.
Moragahakanda is incidentally the final phase of the Mahaweli development initiative that was initiated on January 8, 1976.
Work on the project officially commenced on January 25, 2007 but suffered numerous set backs, following the election of President Maithripala Sirisena work on the project was expedited.
The Moragahakanda Project, which is carried out under the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment. This is incidentally Sri Lanka’s largest dam in 30 years.
The Moragahakanda Kaluganga Development Project will boast of a total capacity of 660,000 acre feet, which is six times the size of the Parakrama Samudraya.
The Upper Elahera Canal Project, which will carry water from the dam to required areas comprise of three main Canals.
One canal will connect Moragahakanda to Yakalla which is adjacent to the Huruluwewa will be 65.5 km in length while the next will be a 29 km canal that will carry water from Yakalla to the Huruluwewa.
Another 9km canal with tunnels is being constructed to carry the excess water in the Kaluganga Reservoir to the Moragahakanda Dam.
12,000 agrarian families will benefit from this while drinking water will also be supplied through this project.
Owners of lands that have been taken over for the Moragahakanda Project will be settled in Medirigiriya and Laggala.
Medirigirya will see the construction of 31 new tanks while 13 new tanks will be constructed in Laggala.
The Upper Elahera Canal Project will nourish 1200 small agrarian tanks.
A separate program is also in place to minimize the impact on the environment by this project and to protect the wild animals in the jungles.
Ten reservoirs are to be constructed inside the forest reserve dedicated to wild animals and an additional 600 acres will be replanted to expand the forest reserve.
