Under the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project, a contribution of 120 MW is to be added to the national grid by the end of this month.
The Minister of Irrigation, Wildlife and Forestry, Ms. Pavithra Wanniarachchi, lawyer, stated that President Ranil Wickremesinghe has given instructions for the opening of the Uma Oya Multi-Purpose Development Project at the end of April.
The Minister stated this while attending a discussion held at the Ministry of Irrigation recently (05) to discuss the progress of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project.
The Uma Oya Multipurpose Project was started in 2011, and the estimated cost is US$513 million.
The amount was supposed to be received as a loan aid from the Iranian government, but due to the fundamental problem affecting the Iranian government, the country’s economy suffered a severe crisis. As the first installment of US$ 50 million had already been received and the construction of this multi-purpose project had started, the work of the Uma Oya Multi-Purpose Project was continued on the basis of Sri Lanka’s treasury allocation without stopping midway.
Through the Uma Oya project, the Puhulpola and Diabara reservoirs will be dammed and the water stored there will be brought through a 23 km tunnel to two turbines located underground. By doing so, hydroelectricity is produced, and an electrical capacity of 120 megawatts is added to the national grid through this.
After power generation, the water is brought to Alikota Ara, Handapanagala, and Kuda Oya reservoirs. By doing so, 20,000 acres of old and new fields will be supplied with water for both the Yala and Maha seasons.
Through the Kirindi Oya basin, Uva Wellassa farmlands will be fertilized, and this will enable the drinking water needs of the people of Badulla and Monaragala districts to be met.
