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Uma Oya final phase resumes
View(s):The final phase of the controversial Uma Oya project is to be started this month with the completion scheduled in six months, a senior official said. Megapolis Ministry Secretary Nihal Rupasinghe, who has been appointed as special consultant to the project, told the Sunday Times they would be handing over a report next week to President Maithripala Sirisena regarding plans to resume the project.
He said local scientists and environmental groups would be invited to visit the project site later this month to show them how the water leaks had been sealed.
Mr. Rupasinghe said that through the sealing process they had been able to reduce the water leaks and plan to go ahead using the Tunnel Boring Machine by sealing the area prior to excavation.
He said the machine would be cutting through the sealed areas to minimise chances of leaking. He said they hoped to complete the remaining six kilometres of the project within the next six months. The controversial project was suspended in July this year amid protests as waterways ran dry, houses and buildings started collapsing and residents were asked to move out of the Bandarawela and Ella areas.
More than 7,000 houses have been affected by the project and the Government has started paying compensation. So far more than Rs 300 million has been paid.
The multi-purpose project is aimed at generating 125Mw of power and irrigating several southern dry zone areas through two major tanks.