Tuesday Jul 12, 2011
The JVP warns of a severe breakdown in the water supply to paddy fields as the government prepares to lease out 22 reservoirs in the country to companies for tourism development.

In the future even if paddy fields dry up and are destroyed due to the lack of water, proper distribution of water from reservoirs will not take place, former JVP MP Samantha Vidyaratne stated.

He claimed that tenders have been called for 22 reservoirs, including Minneriya, Minipe, Parakrama Samudra, Sorabora, Thopa Wewa, Yoda Wewa and Thisa Wewa which currently provide water for paddy cultivation, to be leased out to companies in order to uplift the tourism industry.

After reservoirs are leased for foreigners to enjoy boat rides priority will be given to the boat rides. Therefore there has to be water in these reservoirs at a certain level constantly so that the boats can operate, Vidyaratne pointed out at a press briefing held today (July 11).

Source: adaderana