The System H covers the area in the Kala Oya basin westwards up to the Anurdhapura – Puttalm road, on the North, the Kalawewa Right bank Yoda Ela (Nava Jayaganga) and on the South, the Left Bank Balaluwewa , Yoda Ela of Kalawewa – Usgala- Siyamblangamuwa Ganga right up to Rajangane served by its Left Bank Canal. Land under the Kandalama and Dambulu Oya reservoirs also fell within System H as also the older settlement areas in Rajangane, the Kagama-Kattiyawa and Usgala-Siyambalangamuwa.
The irrigation plans provide for supply of water to the new areas from the existing major tanks and ancient canal system after improvement. The new areas are dotted with numerous village tanks and ancient schemes varying in size from a few to about 100 acres. Though some of these tanks may be suitable for inclusion in the future patterns of planning, their exact role needs further detailed studies. Land slopes and other conditions are similar to the areas already described.(in 1968 report)
System H is among the thirteen development areas, designated under the Mahaweli Development Scheme for which a Master Plan had been prepared by the UNDP/FAO in 1968. The implementation of this scheme took place in 1970 with the commencement of construction of Polgolla Diversion unit which was subsequently followed by the implementation of the Bowatenna Diversion Unit. The Kala Oya Basin in which System H lies was augmented with Mahaweli waters by means of transbasin diversion in the year 1976.
This is the first project was funded by the World Bank, the Netherlands, USA and Canada. The experience gained in the development of System H was served as the model in designing the larger Systems, C and B.
Background
The integrated development of System H commenced in the year 1974 and completed in 1980. A major portion of the project area of system H is located in Anuradhapura District, while the balance lies in Matale and Kurunegala Districts.
Several socio-economic studies were done during the pre-planning stages of the new lands in the system the habitat, economy, society of the numerous small village communities, which were virtually jungle villages in the undeveloped Kala Oya valley, were necessary to integrate these villages into the new system.
The total farm area of System H is about 39,900 ha. The development area identified under system H is sub-divided into several Zones namely H-1 up to H-12. The Zones which have been directly irrigated with diverted waters are H-6, H-7, and H-8 under Kandalama Reservoir, H-9 under Dambulu Oya Reservoir and H-1, H-2, H-3 H-4 and H-5 under Kalawewa Reservoir. The total extent of new farm lands developed under these three reservoirs is 27,300 ha, and they have been developed for irrigated agriculture based on human settlement. In addition 12,600 ha of existing lands too have been supplemented with irrigation water for double cropping. During the implantation phase of integrated development in System H, a number of small and medium size earth dams have been constructed and rehabilitated while hundreds of kilometers of irrigation and drainage canals were built, including structures.
Before the commencement of the Mahaweli Programme, only about 6,400 ha had been cultivated in the area covered by system H, either rain fed or irrigated. About 25% of these fields were left fallow due to lack of water. Only 60% of that land had been cultivated in Maha and only 19% in Yala. The people in general had been living at subsistence level, in conditions very similar to those obtaining in the Dry zone generally. The infra-structure facilities and the community services available at the time were thinly spread and inadequate.
A decade of development has changed the landscape in System H. The impact of system H has spilled over its boundaries. Today, as a result of concerted efforts by the state and considerable public investment in the area, harmonious relationships have been established between man and land and a prosperous farming community has sprung up to benefit the Nation. Over 24,000 farmer families have been settled on the land and the general population in the area exceeds 100,000. The area is regularly cultivable with irrigation facilities and the nation is the richer on account of the contribution made by system H. To develop the area, thick and expensive networks of canals and roads have been constructed. To help the farmer and his activities social infra-structure facilities have been adequately provided. Over 300 settlements of different types have been established and developed.
