Deduru Oya scheme in the doldrums

More than 45 years ago a mega irrigation project cutting across the Deduruoya at Thunmodara in Wariyapola was planned. It aimed at irrigating the Puttalam District and the Rajanganaya. But despite several efforts never got off the ground.

The project died a natural death even before it commenced due to the protests of affected parties. The responsible MPs of the time, were not in a mind to see irrigable land go under water.

All the water that now flows through the lands on the banks of Deduru Oya is rain water. Once the rains cease villagers dig wells to find water therein.

The villages affected by the project are Pothuwewa, Walpaluwa, Walagane, Thambarawa Karambahadigama, Divulgaspitiya, Weraherayagama and Nindagama areas.

The land covered by these villages is around 5,000 acres. According a survey conducted in 2006, of these 5,000 acres, 1,536 acres are paddy lands. The lands affected are suitable for cultivation of coconut, bananas and cashew as long-term crops, with a possibility of under cropping with vegetable.

The villagers who have tended these lands over the years are now in no mood to move out, unless they are adequately compensated. They refuse to budge sans compensation.

The river has a capacity to supply over 70 million cubic metres of water which can supply water to paddy fields via an Ela 60 km long to an extent as large as 2,700 hectares, while another 32 km long Ela can supply water to a further 5,415 hectares of land.
It was also proposed to construct a power house with a capacity to generate 1.5 volts of electricity.

The proposed project further aimed to strengthen the Indibediamuna and Vagalla irrigation schemes by bringing another 3,000 hectares of land under cultivation.

The project is anticipated to cost Rs. 6,200 million and does not require foreign aid. The project which is expected to be completed in 2010, would generate funds amounting to Rs. 15 million in 2006, Rs. 720 million in 2007, Rs. 2,000 million in 2007 and another 2,000 million in 2008.

The total revenue the project is expected to yield by 2009 & 2110 is expected to be over Rs. 3,469 million! This could be considered a large return on investment.

Villagers however claim that despite the huge projected revenue, the state has not thought of compensating the villagers displaced by the project adequately. Even the issue of finding alternative land for the displaced has not been studied by Government officials and thereby hangs a tale.

Areas such as Ganewatta, Wariyapola, & Kobeigana were earmarked for the displaced, but no action had been taken yet.
Instead 78 families have been resettled in elephant-infested areas of the Puttalam District.

Many of those who were settled in those areas left the region in fear of elephants. It is baffling as to why those displaced under the irrigation scheme were selected to be re-settled in such a deprived area.

There are no water facilities available to the 32 families who live in fear of wild elephants. These families often spend nights under trees. Rs. 16,000/- has been allocated for housing, This sum is not inadequate in absolute terms. The remainder of the families have received no relief of any kind.

The so-called gang of 1,500 is a reference to those displaced under the proposed scheme. They have banded themselves together as “Those rendered helpless due to the Deduru Oya Project”. The group demanding relief, organised its first protest demonstration on the 11th.