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| Saturday, 24 July 2004 |
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by Uditha Kumarasinghe The Government will immediately take action to renovate the country's irrigation network with the intention of cultivating 100,000 acres of fallow paddy lands next year, Agriculture, Lands and Irrigation Deputy Minister Bimal Ratnayake said. The Deputy Minister who inspected the fallow paddy lands and irrigation schemes in Godagama area told the Daily News that nearly 2,300 acres of paddy lands have been destroyed in that area alone. Only 400 acres paddy lands have been cultivated in this area. He said there are nearly 24 major and small scale anicuts in Godagama while the irrigation canals spread for nearly 20Km. All these irrigation schemes have been destroyed and no systematic cultivation has been made in this area after 1977. Ratnayake together with Small and Rural Industries Deputy Minister Sunil Handunneththi inspected the existing situation of paddy lands and irrigation schemes in Pallekumbura, Dadigamuwa Mahawela, Amuyankanda, Habarakada, Welikumbura and Panagoda areas. "Therefore we will make every possible attempt to commence the cultivation of these abandoned paddy lands from next season. The Ministry seeks the assistance of farmers and farmer organisations to make this attempt a success," the Deputy Minister said. He said a large number of irrigation schemes which provide water to paddy fields have not been renovated for a long time. A large number of such irrigation schemes have fallen into disuse. Due to the lack of proper water drainage systems, a large extent of paddy plants have faced the threat of rot. The Government will take immediate measures to expedite the renovation of irrigation schemes and cultivate the abandoned paddy lands, he said. |
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