PROGRESS ON STAGE II CONSTRUCTION
Area HI
The
Feasibility Report for Stage H incorporating the development of 71,000 acres
of new land in the Kala Oya
basin has been generally accepted by the Cabinet. An amount of Rs. 20 million has been allocated to commence construction
in 6,000 acres of new land in the left bank of Kala
Oya. below Kalawewa
during 1974. The preliminary work commenced in April 1974.
In
mid April, MDB personnel moved into the Kalawewa
L.B. Area to start construction of the 1st camp at Balaluwewa.
Also in mid April 4 contracts were awarded to construct the new Balaluwewa - Andarawewa Road (Class
B) from 0 - 8 miles and the excavation of the new L.B. Main Canal (0 - 8 miles).
Work on these commenced in May 1974 and all the works under these contracts
have been completed.
In
mid August 1974, the contract for the portion of the Balaluwewa-Andarawewa Road
(8 - 18 miles) was awarded
to RVDB. Earthwork has been completed only up to the 12th mile.
In mid September 1974, the
Branch Channel No. 1 contract was awarded to RVDB. Earth work has been completed
up to 110 chains. Construction of structures is in progress.
The
contract for the Kalawewa augmentation was awarded
to State Engineering Corporation on the 24th of September, 1974
. Construction of L.B. Sluice, extension to existing spill including a section
with a radial gate, raising the existing spill are in progress and will
be completed before December 1975. Work on R.B. Sluice will be completed
in 1976.
Construction of structures
in the L.B.
Main Canal
commenced in January 1975.
Out of the 33 structures, 15 structures have been completed.
Improvements to Galnewa and Ihala Kalankuttiya tanks are in progress.
HI
Area .is divided into 6 Blocks, namely 301, 302, 303, 304; 305 and 308.
Blocks 301-304 have been cleared1 out of jungle and jungle clearing
work in block 308 is in progress. Jungle clearing in Block 305 is awarded
to the Army, and they have just commenced work.
Earth work on the construction
of distributaries channels is completed in all blocks other
Than 305 About 35%-of the earth work has been completed in the field
channels. Work on structures along the distributaries and field channels
are in progress.
Programme for completion of HI Area
In
HI Area, the following items of work are left to be completed during 1975,
before the diversion of water to the Kala Oya basin. It has been planned to commence settlement of farmers
in this area at the beginning of 1976.
1. Completion of Balaluwewa-Andarawewa Road
by RVDB. (Total Length of 18 miles
of road to be completed in 1975).
2. Jungle
clearing in the rest of the area. Heavy and medium jungle clearing including
stumping will be done using heavy machinery by RVDB and the Army, whereas
light jungle clearing will be done by small-scale contractors with groups
of villagers organised for this purpose.
3. Earth work in Branch Channel No. 1 including
structures.
4. Distributaries
and field channels — The channel system for the irrigation
of Hi area consisting of distributaries and field canals are being done on
small contracts by groups of people. Earth work and canal structures are being
done on separate contracts.
5. Work on surface drains is due to be
completed during this year.
6. Land preparation and on-farm works — The
work consists of the levelling of the upland and lowland areas, work on
soil conservation bunds, farm laterals, furrows, ridges and drains and turnout
structures and measuring devices. Preliminary levelling of this area will
be done by heavy machinery and the rest of the works will be done mainly
by the farmers who will be settled in the area after settlement of payment