VI.
ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
6.1 General
The objectives of the proposed
organization are not only to implement the engineering works, but also to play
a wider role in encouraging the general. social and
economic development. The proposed organisation is, in most respects, in line with the present
trends and forward thinking in
6.2 Mahaweli
Ganga Authority
The authority would operate as a
spearhead development organisation and at an appropriate time hand over the responsibility
to the normal Government administration. It will be necessary for the Mahaweli Ganga Authority to be legally established by act of
Parliament as an autonomous agency. It would consist of an executive board with
the necessary supporting organization at head-quarters, project area and field
levels.
6.3 Organization at area level
During
the development phase it is proposed that the project should be declared an
area of special responsibility under the Mahaweli Ganga
Authority, which would be responsible for planning, implementation and control
of all development function including agriculture, land settlement and
irrigation. Appropriate arrangement should be made to reconcile administrative
district boundaries with project areas.
6.4 Settler Selection and Land Tenure
The
existing methods of settler selection, with the improved selection criteria
currently being introduced by the Government, Would be adopted by the
authority. Every settler should be given
secure rights of occupation subject to the payment of an annual rent, and to
the conditions that be must develop and cultivate his holding in accordance
with the programme laid down in the in the schedule to his permit to the
satisfaction of the authority. At the expiry of an agreed period, to be
established by the Government, the settler should be required to purchase the
little to his plot, either outright or by annual instalments over a prescribed
period. In the first five years the settler should pay a nominal water charge
to the Government, but thereafter he should be required to pay his proportion
of annual operating and maintenance cost of supplying irrigation water.
6.5 Research, Extension and Other Facilities
During
the first few years it is likely that farmers will lend to concentrate on paddy
production because it is a crop to which they are accustomed and because the
development of alternative crops is still in its infancy. It is there for
necessary that, parallel to the present policy of improved paddy production.
Efforts should be made to develop crops such as chilies,
cotton, legumes and pasture. Through general extension work
and even more important, by adjusting the producer prices.
The
agricultural research data required in this connection should be supplied by
the existing research facilities in the Ministry of agriculture and food and
the faculty of agriculture. The Mahaweli Ganga
Authority should grant funds to these Organizations to undertake research on
subjects of special interest. During the initial development period, the
authority should be responsible for in-service training of extension workers
and also providing credit facilities to farmers.
The
cooperative societies within the project area should deal, under the control of
the authority in the free market for paddy and other products. All settlers
should be required to become member of cooperative societies.