Kaluganga Reservoir to be filled

There is only a short period of time left to fill water to Kaluganga Reservoir. Water problem in the Dry Zone including Anuradhapura will be completely solved in three years with the filling of water to Moragahakanda and Kaluganga Reservoirs. The Government has also implemented plans to uplift the living conditions of the people who lost their lands to the reservoir. Laggala – Pallgama old town has been evacuated, as it will go under the water of Kaluganga Reservoir. People living in the town had minimum facilities.

A majority of them engaged in agriculture for their livelihood. The Laggala New Town has been built with all facilities for the people who lost their houses due to Kaluganga Reservoir project. They have been resettled with a half-acre plot of land and 1 ½ acres of paddy for each person. A new school has been built with modern facilities at Laggala town instead of the school with less facilities in old Laggala town. Police station, Divisional Secretariat, Bus Halt, Courts complex, hospital and other institutions have been built to suit future needs. The Government has allocated 10,549 million rupees to pay compensation for the displaced families of Laggala old town. The Government has spent 11,642 million rupees for the constructions of the new Laggala town. 400 acres have been allocated to develop tourist industry with many more future economic lands. Apart from that, spaces have been allocated to industries. The development activities which are taking place in an environmental friendly manner closer to Nuckles Forest Range will promote tourism in future.

The project will spend 1,819 million rupees to protect the environment. The government has planned to launch electric boat services and other services such as cable cars, hotels and restaurants. All these would be done with minimum environmental damage. Water will be taken through a tunnel of 7.85 kilometers out of a 9 kilometer canal which links Kaluganga and Moragahakanda. The filling of water to the Kaluganga reservoir will commence on the 23rd of this month under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena.