Four Irrigation Department projects started 14 years ago still not completed

Only Uma Oya Diversion to be completed this year

By Lalith Chaminda and S.K. Kaluarachchi

Four projects that the Irrigation Department commenced 14 years ago, at a cost of Rs. 90 billion had not yet been completed, the National Audit Office (NAO) said. The NAO said that the department had taken twice the time originally scheduled for these projects.

These are Thalpitigala tank, productivity promotion and irrigation scheme efficiency management system, Gin Nilwala Diversion Project and Uma Oya Diversion Project. The estimated costs of these projects now stand at Rs 153 billion. Although almost 60 percent of the allocated money had been spent, none of the projects were near completion, the report has said.

The NAO has proposed that the Irrigation Department analyse the impact of the delays on the expected benefits and this report must be presented to the cabinet of ministers.

The NAO has also said that some staff have been recruited on contract basis and that there have been delays in giving them service extensions. This too has caused disruptions, the NAO says. It recommends that the Irrigation Department audit the work so far and estimate the future costs and benefits of the projects.

In response, the Head of the Irrigation Department said that 90 percent of the Thalpitigala Tank project had been completed. However, the productivity promotion and irrigation scheme efficiency management system could not achieve the expected results because the department didn’t get the promised funding from the treasury.

“The Gin-Nilwala Diversion Project has been delayed because of a number of economic, social and political factors. However, the Uma Oya Diversion Project will be completed by the end of 2022,” he said.