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Whither the wewas?
By Pushpakumara Jayaratna
The dahasak wew or thousand-tank project piloted by the JVP amidst much fanfare appears to have run into some mud holes with doubts about the contracts and questions as to why experienced engineers of the Irrigation department are being left out.

The project was launched on August 19 in the Yapahuwa electorate but the scene at the Hawanpelessa tank for instance appears to be far from what was promised or publicised, some villagers say.

A solitary bulldozer was at the scene and a few villagers were looking on, much in contrast to the active and dynamic village participation that had been expected.

Pradeshiya Sabha JVP member Sunil Premaratne–one of the frontliners in the project– admitted there were delays but attributed them to difficulties in finalising the contracts with farmer organisations.

Responding to criticism that the project appeared to be diluted or deflated he said villagers were rallying round farmer organisations to renew the life-sustaining wewas and transform the villages into engines of growth for the country.

Mr. Premaratne said the agreements with the farmer organisations were signed last week and results would be produced soon. He said the contracts with the farmer organisations would be transparent and on merit, though some village groups are raising questions as to whether contracts are being given mainly to farmers who support the JVP.

Responding to queries as to why the Irrigation Department was being left out or undercut Mr. Premaratne said the department was partly responsible for the delays as some of the equipment sent by it went out of order in a few days causing a work stoppage for two weeks. He said they had to get down bull dozers to get the work started.

He said the estimated expenditure for the renovation of the tank was about Rs. 1.3 million and the work would cover the reconstruction of the wewa bank and sluice gates.

Despite the assurances by the JVP member some villagers still have doubts that contracts or sub contracts are being given on a political basis. The Irrigation Department office in Kurunegala was sidelined largely on the allegation that there has been curruption in previous projects.

But many villagers are wondering how only farmers could handle the renovation of the wewas without the technical expertise of qualified irrigation engineers. Kurunegala irrigation engineer S. M. Rajah denied charges that the equipment was out of order and claimed the delays or problems were caused by farmer groups which were seeking cheap equipment or methods.

He said the irrigation department would not be supervising the renovation but had only given some advice. As for corruption charges or politicisation some villagers claim that a contract for the disposal of soil from a Kurunegala tank had been given at Rs. 96 a cube for the irrigation tank in Kurunegala, but for another tank the rate was Rs. 140.

JVP brimming with confidence, wewas going even North, but no LTTE
By Frances Bulathsinghala
Agriculture Minister Anura Dissanayake in the driving seat of the project to renew thousands of wewas is confident and says the project will be even extended to the LTTE-controlled Killinochchi and Mullaitivu areas.

But asked by a Tamil journalist whether the JVP would give money to the LTTE for such projects the minister responded fast saying, "No, of course we will not give money to the LTTE."

"But we will provide the money to any other 'impartial' non governmental organisation to carry out the work", the minister told a news conference after the cabinet meeting. He said the JVP was hoping to build 10 tanks each in Mullaittivu and Kilinochchi districts before the end of the year.

"Of course, we have to find the proper organisation to take the responsibility," Minister Dissanayake said adding that talks held so far with several NGO's represented in the two areas had failed to find a willing organisation to carry out the supervisory role needed.

According to the JVP Rs. 400 million has been provided by the government for the entire project with Rs. 138 million pledged by state and privately owned banks in the country. The JVP minister pledged that work on more than 500 of the 10,000 wewas would be completed by next month.

Claiming that the renovation of wewas had become a nationwide attempt Minister Dissanayake refused comment when asked if there was any specific financial response from the President. However he said the JVP was satisfied with the Rs. 400 million donation made by the government.

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