The final phases of two mega drinking water projects in Anuradhapura District are at present in a state of stagnation. The two mega projects are the JICA funded Anuradhapura North Water Project – ( Phase One) and Chinese funded Thambuttegama Water Project. A problematic situation prevails since the JICA and the Chinese Development Bank are reported to have suspended the financial assistance agreed upon due to the controversial foreign loans rescheduling mechanism following the critical economic crisis, in the country.
A spokesman of the Anuradhapura North – (Phase One) Water Project referring the matter to Daily News emphasized that because of the non – payment of bills to the contractors amounting to around LKR 1,300 million they have faced many financial difficulties and reluctant to attend to the balance volume of work in the final stage. Apart from it another LKR 835 million is required to complete the total water project, which is expected to cater to nearly a 8 million population in CKDu prone Medawachchiya and Rambewa Divisional Secretariat divisions through 25,000 new water connections.
The total expenditure for the completion of the water project is LKR 11500 million. The loan agreement amounting to JPY 5,166 million was signed with Japan International Corporation Agency in March 2013. The loan agreement was to be expired in July 2020 and later have been extended up to January 2024.
We are now ready to supply safe drinking water to the section of beneficiaries for selected first priority zone, the spokesman said further. It is learnt that due to the suspension of the loan facility the project has been unable to settle a sum of out of total LKR 300 million to the Irrigation Department for the task of restoration of canals systems of Mahakandarawa Reservoir, which is the main water source of the Anuradhapura North (Phase – One) water project and renovation and rehabilitation work are at a standstill now.
In the meantime the construction work of the Thambuttegama Water Project is progressing at snail’s pace. The Thambuttegama Water Project is expected to supply drinking water to nearly a population of 200,000 in Mahaweli ‘H’ area with Angamuwa Reservoir being the proposed main water source to realize the water project. The cost to be incurred for the completion of the water project is around LKR 25,000 million out of which US dollar million 103 is provided by the Chinese Development Bank. It is understood that the Finance Ministry is required to intervene in prompting the releasing of funds as agreed upon to complete the final stage construction of the water project.
Apart from these two mega water projects the releasing of funds have been suspended to commence construction work of JICA funded Anuradhapura North – Phase II Water Project costing LKR 57,306 million out of which the JICA grants LKR 49,823.6 million. The number of beneficiaries under the water project is 192,390 in CKDu prone areas namely Padaviya, Horowpothana, Kahatagsdigiliya and Kebithigollewa DS divisions.
President Ranil Wickramasignhe during his recent two days Anuradhapura official tour instructed the higher officials of the three water projects and the Ministry officials to take prompt action to get the balance funds released through protocol and bilateral talks on humanitarian grounds.
courtesy dailynews.lk
