http://www.news.lk/news/sri-lanka/1672-kalmadu-irrigation-tank-restored

The Kalmadu Irrigation Tank in the Kilinochchi district, renovated under the Uthuru Wasanthaya programme was declared open yesterday by Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa. This tank bund was exploded by the LTTE at the last stage of terrorism destroying the livelihood of 4,650 farmer families in the Kandawalai DS Division in Kilinochchi. Kalmadu is an earthen dam across the Nethali Aru basin, located 18 km East of Kilinochchi. Its water storage capacity is 11.7 mcm impounded by a 1.575km long earth embankment with a maximum height of 8m. Farmers from the Kalmadu were unable to cultivate for 8 consecutive seasons due to the unavailability of water. The Ministry of Economic Development said that the opening of this tank for agricultural purposes, 4,641 families having 18,335 people will be directly benefited and 1000 families will be benefited by agricultural labourers, machine operators, traders and business, millers and transporters after the intervention. The Ministry also said that there are about 20 minor tanks fed under the Kalmadu tank and they not only provide irrigation water but also recharge the groundwater aquifer enabling abstraction of water for drinking, domestic uses and irrigation as well as for various industries and cattle. As a result of these 2 hospitals, 9 schools, 20 Kovils and a Church will also benefit with water supply from the Kalmadu Tank. Ministers Douglas Devananda, Reshad Bathiiudeen, G.A.Chandrasri and several others attended yesterday’s function. (niz