Background

• The Water Resources Development in Sri Lanka has contributed significantly to the country’s Economic Growth, Poverty Reduction and Environmental Health.
• It is estimated that less than 25% of the country’s water resources are developed. At present, about 85% of the developed water resources are used for irrigated agriculture in the dry zone of the country.
• Water sector of Sri Lanka is however faced with a few critical and independent challenges.
• The DSWRPP project will address these challenges.

Objectives

Improve the development and management of water resources within the country, reduce water-induced hazards to public, and enhance effectiveness of water related investments.

Kantale Dam breached in 1986.

Killing – 127
Affecting Residents – 10864
Destroy Houses – 1200
Damaging Agriculture, commercial and public infrastructure.

Project Components

1. Dam Safety and Operational Efficiency Improvement.
2. Upgrading & Modernization of Hydro-Meteorological Information Systems. (HMIS)
3. Multi Sectoral Water Resources Planning.

Key Parameters

Project Duration : 4 Years
(2008-2012)

Project Cost : SLR 7625m

Dam Safety : SLR 5700m
(75%)
HMIS : SLR 900m
(12%)

WRP : SLR 700m
(9%)

Project Mgt : SLR 325m
(4%)

Challenges to the Water Sector

Over 350 Large/Medium Dams, Headworks and Trans-Basin canals of the country are aging and suffering from various structural deficiencies and shortcomings in operation and monitoring facilities.
The National Hydrological and Hydro-meteorological data collection network and its Information System (HMIS) are grossly outdated, inadequate and need upgrading & modernization.
Competition among different sectors and users are increasing dramatically resulting in disputes and conflicts which need re-examining the development potential and feasibility of the water resources development proposals, including the original Mahaweli Master Plan.
Weak institutional arrangements and coordination for efficient management of water infrastructure and hydro-metrological information system in the water sector institutions need new knowledge, skills and modern management practices.

How the Project was Conceived

To overcome above challenges GOSL developed a PCN & submitted to the WB for seeking funding in early 2005. Once WB accepted it as a useful Project to be financially supported, Cabinet has principally approved the PCN to be studied further and the name of the project was “National Water Management & Improvement Project (NAWAM)”.
At the end of the Project Preparation , it was observed that Dam Safety component will absorb the 75% of the project cost. Therefore to reflect the right scope of the Project the Name of the project was changed as “Dam Safety & Water Resources Planning Project (DSWRPP)”.
Similarly Cabinet decided to reduce the project period from 6 years to 4 years.

Dam Categories

Concrete Gravity

Installation or cleaning of foundation piezometers
Refurbishment of mechanical equipments
Unblocking Drains
Rehabilitation of spillway E&M equipments
Stabilization of the plunge pool formed downstream of the spillway.

Castlereigh
Bowatenna
Laxapana
Canyon
Polgolla
Norton
Rantambe

Concrete Arch

Finite element analysis to determine the future effect of continuing expansion and determine trigger level of movement
Improvement of instrumentation network for seepage monitoring and introducing a database system
Refurbish spillway gate control system
Filling of some structural cracks in the
spillway chute

Rock Fill

Rehabilitation of the spillway electrical and control equipment
Repair to the joint filter in the spillway chute
Removal of the ridged covers to the arms of the radial gates
Provision of a roof to the spillway gantry
Refurbishment of the mechanical equipment

Homogenous Earth

Modification of out let Electrical control panel board & automation of gate control
Repair of Hydraulic system in sluice gates
Stop the depression in the main dam
Clearing of vegetation/secondary growth on the dam/embankment

Location of Dams to be fully rehabilitated.

32 Dams