Restoration of 500 old tanks to be entrusted to state entities

BY CYRIL WIMALASURENDRE

KANDY – Restoration of old tanks, contracted to private companies, take a long time to complete because those entities use it as an opportunity to engage in felling trees and gem mining, Irrigation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa said in Kandy yesterday.

Rajapaksa said: “It is obvious that the objectives spelt out by the government and the expectations of the people are ignored when such individuals’ carry out important tasks. We have now taken steps to get the assistance of state agencies like the State Machinery Agency to renovate old tanks.”

The minister said that 500 old tanks in the country would be restored within the next two years. Under the programme a tank in every Divisional Secretariat area, those tanks would be restored, he said.

The tank restoration programme would commence on 04 February, the minister added.