The Disaster Management Center (DMC) in collaboration with United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and with the technical support of the Department of Agrarian Development has commenced a project for the development of the small tank (Cascade) system for reducing the effect of drought in North Western Province as a model. It is based on the Madawachchiya tank cascade system in Siyambalawa and Padipanchawa GN divisions in the Galagamuwa DS division in Kurunegala district. The project consists of 3 phases including a study of the watershed, collecting weather & climatic data, evaluating soil & geological functions, water balance study, infrastructure development and mobilizing of human resources. The Madawachchiya tank cascade system is based on four tanks and four anicuits namely Kongolla, Maha amuna, Nellimaduwa and Meegaswewa..
The 1st phase of the program was completed in December 2009 which included improvements to the tank bund, construction of rip rap, repairing of sluice gate, construction of flood control structure, repairing and construction of new pick up anicuts, repairing of diversion structure and construction of one way farm turn outs, installation of gauges for measurement of depth & flow, establishment of Agro metrological station, preparation of elevation maps, land use maps & micro catchment boundaries maps related to the Madawachchiya tank. This tank will supply water for the 145 acres of land through two main canals, Nellimaduwa anicut, Meegaswewa anicut and 7 sub canals. Nearly 500 families from the Siyambalawa and Padipanchawa GN divisions will benefit from this project.
During 2nd and 3rd phases of the program, the evaluation of soil and geological functions with catchment & command area development, water balance study, infrastructure development of Nabadawa, Padipanchawa and Pahala tanks and mobilization of human resources will be implemented in next 2 years. The expected total cultivable land extent is 400 Ac under above 4 tanks and 4 anicuits. The total value of this program which is funded by the UNDP & Disaster Management Center is 6 million rupees.
